THE ATLANTIC WALL (2) Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway
ABOUT T H E AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR STEVEN J ZALOGA received his BA in history from Union College and his MA from Columbia University. He has worked as an analyst in the aerospace industry for over two decades, covering missile systems and the international arms trade, and has served with the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think-tank. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and military history, with an accent on the US Army in World War II as well as Russia and the former Soviet Union.
ADAM HOOK studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on the Aztecs, the Greeks, the American Civil War and the American Revolution. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world. He lives in East Sussex, UK.
FORTRESS • 8 9
THE ATLANTIC WALL (2) Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway
STEVEN J ZALOGA
I L L U S T R A T E D BY A D A M H O O K Series editors
Marcus Cowper and Nikolai Bogdanovic
First published in 2009 by Osprey Publishing Midland House, West Way, Botley, Oxford 0X2 OPH, UK 443 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016, USA E-mail:
[email protected] © 2009 Osprey Publishing Limited All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Enquiries should be addressed to the Publishers. ISBN: 978-1-84603-393-3 E-book ISBN: 978-1 -84908-125-2 Editorial by llios Publishing Ltd, Oxford, UK (www.iliospublishing.com) Cartography: Map Studio, Romsey, UK Page layout by Ken Vail Graphic Design, Cambridge, UK (kvgd.com) Typeset in Myriad and Sabon Index by Michael Forder Originated by PPS Grasmere Printed in China through Bookbuilders 09 10 11 12 13
1098765432 1
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the British Library.
AUTHOR'S NOTE The author would like to thank Alain Chazette for the use of photos from his extensive archive. Rob Plas and Marc van Etten provided indispensable help in helping to track down bunkers in the Hoek van Holland area. Thanks also go to Wachtmeester Alex van Riezen and to the Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie for help in obtaining photos and other information on the coastal bunkers taking part in the Walcheren battles. David Keough at the US Army's Military History Institute was also most helpful in pointing out resources for this study.
ARTIST'S NOTE Readers may care to note that the original paintings from which the color plates in this book were prepared are available for private sale. All reproduction copyright whatsoever is retained by the Publishers. All enquiries should be addressed to: Scorpio Gallery, PO Box 475, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 2SL, UK The Publishers regret that they can enter into no correspondence upon this matter.
THE FORTRESS STUDY GROUP (FSG) The object of the FSG is to advance the education of the public in the study of all aspects of fortifications and their armaments, especially works constructed to mount or resist artillery. The FSG holds an annual conference in September over a long weekend with visits and evening lectures, an annual tour abroad lasting about eight days, and an annual Members' Day. The FSG journal FORTls published annually, and its newsletter Casemate is published three times a year. Membership is international. For further details, please contact: The Secretary, c/o 6 Lanark Place, London W9 1BS, UK Website: www.fsgfort.com
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CONTENTS INTRODUCTION
4
DESIGN A N D D E V E L O P M E N T
5
Defense sectors . Coastal artillery . Coastal obstacles . Coastal artillery radar Controlled submarine minefields - The midget submarine threat Coastal commando units
A T O U R OF T H E SITES
24
Belgium . The Netherlands - Norway . Denmark
T H E SITES IN C O M B A T
52
The Scheldt campaign . K-Verbande in the Netherlands . Combat in Norway The last battle
T H E SITES TODAY
60
FURTHER READING
61
GLOSSARY
63
INDEX
64
THE ATLANTIC WALL (2) BELGIUM, THE NETHERLANDS, DENMARK AND NORWAY INTRODUCTION T h e A t l a n t i c Wall w a s the l a r g e s t a n d m o s t e x t e n s i v e fortification p r o g r a m in m o d e r n E u r o p e a n h i s t o r y , far o u t s t r i p p i n g the M a g i n o t L i n e in l e n g t h , m a t e r i a l , a n d c o s t . T h i s is the s e c o n d b o o k in this series, f o l l o w i n g F o r t r e s s 6 3 o n the Atlantikwall o n the F r e n c h A t l a n t i c c o a s t . T h i s v o l u m e e x t e n d s the c o v e r a g e f r o m the B e l g i a n c o a s t e a s t w a r d t o the N e t h e r l a n d s a n d D e n m a r k , a n d n o r t h t o N o r w a y . T h e p r e v i o u s b o o k f o c u s e d o n the A t l a n t i c Wall's p r i m a r y r o l e in r e p u l s i n g the i n e v i t a b l e Allied i n v a s i o n o f F r a n c e . In the c a s e o f the c o u n t r i e s c o v e r e d in this v o l u m e , the m i s s i o n w a s m o r e c o m p l e x . C o a s t a l d e f e n s e s in B e l g i u m w e r e the s a m e a s t h o s e in n e i g h b o r i n g F r a n c e a n d p a r t o f the s a m e a n t i - i n v a s i o n s c h e m e . B u t for the rest o f this r e g i o n , the Atlantikwall w a s a r e s p o n s e t o m o r e diverse threats p o s e d by the R o y a l N a v y . T h e British a r t o f w a r h a d l o n g f a v o r e d c o a s t a l r a i d i n g ; the n a m e s of m a n y o f the f o r t i f i e d sites m e n t i o n e d in this b o o k elicit e c h o e s o f p a s t b a t t l e s f r o m the N a p o l e o n i c a g e a n d b e f o r e . T o a v o i d r e p e a t i n g the s a m e s u b j e c t s c o v e r e d in the e a r l i e r F o r t r e s s v o l u m e , this b o o k shifts the f o c u s a w a y f r o m a n t i - i n v a s i o n d e f e n s e s s u c h a s c o a s t a l o b s t a c l e s , a n d p r o v i d e s greater c o v e r a g e t o other c o a s t a l defenses s u c h a s radar, c o n t r o l l e d m i n e s , a n d c o a s t a l d e f e n s e s m a l l craft. N o r w a y w a s the first c o u n t r y t o see e x t e n s i v e d e p l o y m e n t of c o a s t a l artillery, p r o v o k e d in l a r g e m e a s u r e b y early British c o m m a n d o r a i d s . Allied d e c e p t i o n o p e r a t i o n s t h r o u g h the w a r a t t e m p t e d t o convince the G e r m a n s that a n i n v a s i o n o f N o r w a y w a s p a r t of Allied strategy, in h o p e s o f tying d o w n G e r m a n f o r c e s . T h e r e w a s a revival o f N o r w e g i a n defenses in the late s u m m e r o f 1 9 4 4 . T h e l o s s o f critical U - b o a t b a s e s in F r a n c e f o r c e d the K r i e g s m a r i n e t o d e p l o y its s u r v i v i n g f o r c e t o N o r w e g i a n h a r b o r s s u c h a s T r o n d h e i m , invigorating R o y a l N a v y actions to these northern waters and provoking r e n e w e d d e f e n s e efforts. W h e n the R e d A r m y p u s h e d the W e h r m a c h t o u t of F i n l a n d v i a the a r c t i c F i n n m a r k r e g i o n o f N o r w a y , c o a s t a l d e f e n s e s w e r e r e i n f o r c e d t o p r o t e c t the t r o o p c o n v o y s s t r e a m i n g d o w n a l o n g the c o a s t f r o m arctic w a t e r s . A l t h o u g h the t h r e a t o f a m p h i b i o u s i n v a s i o n o n the D u t c h c o a s t w a s slight d u e t o the t e r r a i n , the i m p o r t a n t p o r t s o f R o t t e r d a m a n d A m s t e r d a m a n d their a c c e s s t o the k e y rivers l e a d i n g i n t o the G e r m a n i n d u s t r i a l h e a r t l a n d g u a r a n t e e d s e r i o u s f o r t i f i c a t i o n e f f o r t s . D e n m a r k p r e s e n t s a different c a s e altogether, w i t h its d e f e n s e s o r i e n t e d p r i m a r i l y t o k e e p i n g the British fleet o u t o f the B a l t i c , w i t h s t r o n g g u n p o s i t i o n s t o c o v e r the n a r r o w s t r a i t s . 4
O f the r e g i o n s c o v e r e d in this b o o k , o n l y the N e t h e r l a n d s s a w e x t e n s i v e c o m b a t . T h e Atlantikwall a l o n g the D u t c h c o a s t b e c a m e involved in the a u t u m n 1 9 4 4 fighting to o p e n the a p p r o a c h e s to A n t w e r p . T h e fiercest of these battles t o o k place o n Walcheren, w h e r e British a m p h i b i o u s forces p a i d a heavy price t o o v e r c o m e a concentration of fortified g u n s . N o r w a y r e m a i n e d a b a c k w a t e r for m o s t of the war, the arctic n o r t h seeing s o m e c o m b a t in the a u t u m n of 1 9 4 4 during the w i t h d r a w a l of G e r m a n forces f r o m F i n l a n d . D e n m a r k w a s s p a r e d a n y extensive l a n d c o m b a t a n d its Atlantikwall d e f e n s e s w e r e never tested. C u r i o u s l y , N o r w a y a n d D e n m a r k b e c a m e m o d e l s for the final e v o l u t i o n o f G e r m a n coastal defense doctrine, serving a s the p r o v i n g g r o u n d s for several n e w types of w e a p o n including g u i d e d t o r p e d o e s , u n d e r w a t e r a c o u s t i c s e n s o r s , a n d infrared detectors.
ABOVE
Three views of t h e
Atlantikwall
defences. The image o n t h e right shows a 7 5 m m anti-tank g u n g u a r d i n g t h e shores of Ostend, n o w part of t h e D o m a i n Raversijde m u s e u m . (Author's p h o t o g r a p h ) BELOW
LEFT
The c r o w n i n g glory of German coast defense in W o r l d War I was t h e repulse of t h e British naval raid at Z e e b r u g g e in 1918. This p h o t o was taken in June 1940 f o l l o w i n g t h e fall
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT G e r m a n c o a s t a l d e f e n s e s o n the N o r t h S e a d a t e b a c k m a n y c e n t u r i e s , a n d during the reforms of K a i s e r Wilhelm in the late 1 8 8 0 s , the K r i e g s m a r i n e (navy) w a s a s s i g n e d this m i s s i o n . T h e s e fortifications w e r e m o d e r n i z e d d u r i n g W o r l d W a r I, a n d the K r i e g s m a r i n e w a s c o n f r o n t e d w i t h the n e e d t o d e f e n d the o c c u p i e d B e l g i a n c o a s t a g a i n s t British n a v a l o p e r a t i o n s . G e r m a n c o a s t a l fortification in W o r l d W a r I w a s n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y e l a b o r a t e , u s u a l l y c o n s i s t i n g of o p e n " k e t t l e " p o s i t i o n s (Kesselbettungen), w h i c h w e r e l a r g e circular g u n pits with c r e w shelters a n d p r o t e c t e d recesses for a m m u n i t i o n a n d crew. T h e defense o f the B e l g i a n c o a s t in 1 9 1 4 - 1 8 h e l p e d t o s h a p e G e r m a n a t t i t u d e s a b o u t c o a s t a l d e f e n s e w h e n d e a l i n g w i t h the R o y a l N a v y . British s t r a t e g y f a v o r e d p e r i p h e r a l o p e r a t i o n s a n d r a i d i n g , especially a g a i n s t vital p o r t s a n d other c o a s t a l objectives. T h e classic e x a m p l e w a s the British n a v a l r a i d a g a i n s t Z e e b r u g g e a n d O s t e n d o n April 2 3 , 1 9 1 8 , w h i c h a t t e m p t e d t o s a b o t a g e b o t h p o r t s by sinking b l o c k s h i p s in key p a s s a g e s . T h e Z e e b r u g g e r a i d w a s p a r t l y successful but the G e r m a n c o a s t a l batteries inflicted frightfully high c a s u a l t i e s
of Belgium and shows German t r o o p s o p e r a t i n g one of t h e Belgian Vickers 3.7-inch guns near t h e famous Z e e b r u g g e Mole w h e r e t h e 1918 battle t o o k place. (NARA) BELOW
RIGHT
The most vivid example of t h e value of coastal defense occurred o n April 9,1940 w h e n Norway's Oscarsborg fortress o n t h e approaches t o Oslo sank t h e German cruiser
Blucherwith
g u n a n d t o r p e d o fire. Three 2 8 0 m m M o d e l 1892/93 guns remained in German service w i t h 5./MAA.501, a n d o n e is seen here shortly after t h e war w h e n p h o t o g r a p h e d by a US A r m y inspection t e a m . (NARA)
o n the r a i d i n g force. T h e O s t e n d r a i d w a s a failure d u e to G e r m a n gunfire, a n d a r e p e a t r a i d o n M a y 1 0 w a s only m a r g i n a l l y successful. T h e defense of these t w o p o r t s h e l p e d e s t a b l i s h the m i s s i o n for the K r i e g s m a r i n e c o a s t a l artillery. G e r m a n d o c t r i n e d i d n o t f a v o r d e f e n s e s s u b s t a n t i a l e n o u g h t o prevent a full-scale i n v a s i o n , b u t r a t h e r sufficient t o deter R o y a l N a v y r a i d s a n d d i s c o u r a g e British w a r s h i p s f r o m b o m b a r d i n g the c o a s t . W i t h t h e r i s e t o p o w e r o f H i t l e r a n d t h e N a z i s in the e a r l y 1 9 3 0 s , G e r m a n y e m b a r k e d o n its m o s t e l a b o r a t e f o r t i f i c a t i o n effort o f the m o d e r n e r a , the W e s t w a l l , better k n o w n t o the Allies a s the Siegfried L i n e . T h i s linear d e f e n s i v e line a l o n g G e r m a n y ' s w e s t e r n frontier h a d little t a c t i c a l r e l e v a n c e t o the c o a s t a l d e f e n s e m i s s i o n , b u t it h a d a s u b s t a n t i a l t e c h n i c a l i m p a c t o n the later Atlantikwall in t w o m a j o r r e s p e c t s . T o b e g i n w i t h , it h e l p e d usher in a n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f f o r t r e s s d e s i g n t h a t p l a c e d g r e a t e r e m p h a s i s o n s h e l l p r o o f a n d b o m b p r o o f c o n s t r u c t i o n t h r o u g h the u s e o f steel-reinforced c o n c r e t e . U n l i k e the M a g i n o t L i n e , these b o r d e r fortifications w e r e relatively s m a l l b u n k e r s b a s e d o n the e x p e r i e n c e s o f the a r m y in the t r e n c h fighting of 1 9 1 7 - 1 8 . S e c o n d l y , the W e s t w a l l g a v e a d d e d i m p o r t a n c e t o O r g a n i z a t i o n T o d t , a p a r a m i l i t a r y c o n s t r u c t i o n f o r m a t i o n u n d e r Dr. F r i t z T o d t t h a t b e c a m e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h all m a j o r G e r m a n s t a t e civil e n g i n e e r i n g p r o j e c t s including the a u t o b a h n . G i v e n the peculiar political d y n a m i c s of N a z i G e r m a n y w i t h m a n y l a r g e s t a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n s v y i n g for the f a v o r o f the Fiihrer, O r g a n i z a t i o n T o d t h a d s u b s t a n t i a l b u r e a u c r a t i c incentives t o p u s h g r a n d i o s e c o n s t r u c t i o n projects whether w a r r a n t e d by military necessity or not. Hitler w a s especially susceptible to Todt's blandishments due to his p e r s o n a l e n t h u s i a s m f o r g r a n d i o s e a r c h i t e c t u r e , a s well a s his p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e a s a n i n f a n t r y m a n in the t r e n c h e s in W o r l d W a r I w h e r e b u n k e r s w e r e a m a t t e r o f life o r d e a t h .
"Alarm!" A German rifle section scrambles f r o m a Bauform 502 personnel bunker, part of S t r o n g p o i n t Roon in Middelkerke, Belgium. (A. Chazette)
T h e blitzkrieg v i c t o r i e s in the s p r i n g a n d early s u m m e r o f 1 9 4 0 p r e s e n t e d the W e h r m a c h t w i t h a s u b s t a n t i a l n e w c h a l l e n g e of d e f e n d i n g a n e x t e n d e d c o a s t l i n e f r o m the A r c t i c C i r c l e o f n o r t h e r n N o r w a y , d o w n the A t l a n t i c c o a s t t o the N o r t h S e a t o w a r d s the S k a g e r r a k , s o m e 3 , 8 0 0 k m ( 2 , 4 0 0 m i l e s ) . T h e f o u r o c c u p i e d c o u n t r i e s in the n o r t h e r n sector - N o r w a y , D e n m a r k , B e l g i u m , a n d the N e t h e r l a n d s - a l r e a d y h a d m o d e s t c o a s t a l artillery defenses. T h e only c o a s t a l defenses t h a t p l a y e d a role in the 1 9 4 0 c a m p a i g n w e r e the N o r w e g i a n d e f e n s e s in the O s l o F j o r d w h e r e the G e r m a n cruiser Bliicber w a s s u n k o n A p r i l 9 , 1 9 4 0 in a d u e l w i t h t w o f o r t i f i e d b a t t e r i e s . A s the W e h r m a c h t d e p l o y e d for o c c u p a t i o n d u t i e s , these e x i s t i n g c o a s t a l d e f e n s e s f o r m e d a thin Atlantikwall. c r u s t for w h a t w o u l d later e m e r g e a s the G e r m a n y r e m a i n e d o n the offensive in 1 9 4 0 4 1 a n d p a i d little attention to defensive c o n c e r n s . A significant n u m b e r of large c o a s t a l batteries a n d r a i l w a y g u n s w e r e d e p l o y e d t o the P a s - d e - C a l a i s o n the E n g l i s h C h a n n e l , but this w a s a n offensive o p e r a t i o n intended t o p r o v i d e fire s u p p o r t for the p l a n n e d Seelowe i n v a s i o n o f B r i t a i n . In 1 9 4 1 , Organization Todt began a large construction p r o g r a m in several F r e n c h p o r t s to create m a s s i v e b o m b p r o o f shelters t o h a r b o r the U - b o a t fleet in o p e r a t i o n s t o s t r a n g l e B r i t a i n by s u b m a r i n e b l o c k a d e a n d c o m m e r c e r a i d i n g ; smaller schemes w e r e a l s o u n d e r w a y o n s u b m a r i n e b u n k e r s in N o r w a y a n d S - b o a t ( t o r p e d o b o a t ) shelters in the
6
N e t h e r l a n d s . W i t h the g r a d u a l a b a n d o n m e n t of p l a n s t o i n v a d e Britain a n d the strategic shift t o the R u s s i a n front, there w a s s o m e d i s c u s s i o n in F e b r u a r y 1 9 4 1 of erecting fortifications a l o n g the C h a n n e l a s a n e c o n o m y - o f - f o r c e tactic, enabling relatively m o d e s t units to defend very l o n g c o a s t l i n e s . Hitler rejected these p l a n s , if for n o other r e a s o n t h a n it m i g h t tip his h a n d r e g a r d i n g p l a n s to i n v a d e the S o v i e t U n i o n in J u n e 1 9 4 1 . T h e o n l y a r e a t o receive h e a v y fortification w a s the C h a n n e l I s l a n d s , w h i c h e n j o y e d Hitler's special attention a s the only British l a n d s in his g r a s p . T h e c o a s t a l defense d i l e m m a e m e r g e d late in 1 9 4 1 w i t h the b e g i n n i n g of British r a i d s a l o n g the N o r w e g i a n c o a s t . British special f o r c e s l a n d e d o n the L o f o t e n i s l a n d s o n the n o r t h e r n N o r w e g i a n c o a s t o n M a r c h 4 , 1 9 4 1 a g a i n s t m i n i m a l o p p o s i t i o n . T h i s p r o m p t e d the W e h r m a c h t t o r e i n f o r c e the s c a n t n a v a l c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s w i t h a r m y b a t t e r i e s . In M a r c h 1 9 4 1 , N o r w a y w a s allotted 1 6 0 a r m y c o a s t a l batteries a n d in J u n e this p r o g r a m w a s e x t e n d e d by a d d i n g 9 0 batteries t o w e s t e r n E u r o p e a n d 1 0 t o D e n m a r k . British c o m m a n d o o p e r a t i o n s c o n t i n u e d in N o r w a y at S p i t z b e r g e n o n A u g u s t 1 7 , 1 9 4 1 , a n d a return raid to the L o f o t e n i s l a n d s o n D e c e m b e r 2 7 , 1 9 4 1 . T h e s e r a i d s , a s well a s similar o n e s o n the F r e n c h c o a s t , w e r e m o r e a n u i s a n c e t h a n a significant threat, b u t they c a u s e d s o m e w o r r y in Berlin. T h e direct result w a s a F u h r e r
TOP
LEFT
A variety of m u n i t i o n bunkers were d e v e l o p e d t o s u p p o r t artillery positions. This is an Fl 246 m u n i t i o n bunker, part of WN 82 Flak-Batterie O l m e n in IJmuiden w h i c h s u p p o r t e d t h e fortified 1 0 5 m m flak positions on t h e crest of t h e coastal d u n e above. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h ) TOP
RIGHT
Tobruks, more formally designated as Ringstande, were t h e most w i d e l y use field fortification in t h e
Atlantikwall.
They were small, simple structures w i t h a characteristic r o u n d o p e n i n g for a machine g u n or other w e a p o n . Since they had an o p e n roof and were built t o t h e lower B1 standards, they were not designated " p e r m a n e n t " fortifications. This example was part of t h e IJmuiden fortification zone. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
LEFT
This is a superb example of the open-kettle-style g u n pits typical of t h e Atlantikwall
in
1940-43, armed in this case w i t h a w a r - b o o t y Cockerill 1 2 0 m m mle. 1931 Belgian field g u n . This is part of the Batterie Saltzwedel neu/Tirpitz of 6./MAA.204from 1941 until April 1944, and n o w preserved at t h e Domain Raversijde m u s e u m . (Author's photograph)
TOP
LEFT
The Dieppe raid led t o an intensive p r o g r a m t o protect coastal batteries w i t h steel-reinforced concrete casemates like this Bauform 671 a r m e d w i t h a 1 5 0 m m C/36 destroyer g u n a n d currently preserved as part of t h e Domain Raversijde m u s e u m . (Author's p h o t o g r a p h ) TOP
RIGHT
This is another example of camouflage, a Schneider 1 0 5 m m mle. 1913 field g u n of 4./HKAA.180 built at T h y b o r o n , Denmark in 1943 w i t h t h e Bauform 671 casemate enclosed in a false w o o d e n structure t o look like a civilian b u i l d i n g . (NARA)
d i r e c t i v e o n D e c e m b e r 1 4 , 1 9 4 1 t h a t o r d e r e d the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a " N e w W e s t w a l l w i t h a s s m a l l a n u m b e r a s p o s s i b l e o f p e r m a n e n t fixed t r o o p s . " T h e directive r e c o g n i z e d t h a t G e r m a n o c c u p a t i o n forces w e r e stretched very thinly a l o n g the c o a s t , a n d t h a t f o r t i f i c a t i o n s c o u l d s u b s t i t u t e for m a n p o w e r in r e m o t e a r e a s . T h e p r i o r i t y f o r the f o r t i f i c a t i o n p r o g r a m w a s N o r w a y , the F r e n c h a n d B e l g i a n C h a n n e l c o a s t , the D u t c h c o a s t , a n d the G e r m a n Bight, in t h a t order. T h e e m p h a s i s o n N o r w a y in this early directive w a s a r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t N o r w a y p r e s e n t e d a n e s p e c i a l l y difficult defensive c h a l l e n g e d u e t o its e x t e n s i v e c o a s t l i n e , a s well a s the i m p o r t a n c e o f the c o a s t a l c o n v o y s a l o n g the N o r w e g i a n c o a s t t h a t w e r e b r i n g i n g vital m a t e r i a l s t o the G e r m a n w a r i n d u s t r y f r o m the m i n e s in n o r t h e r n N o r w a y . T h e c o a s t a l artillery p o s i t i o n s h a d t w o principal missions: protection of G e r m a n coastal shipping, and defense a g a i n s t e n e m y r a i d s . T h e initial N e w W e s t w a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s o n a very s m a l l s c a l e a n d f o c u s e d o n reinforcing the c o a s t a l artillery p o s i t i o n s by p r o v i d i n g select batteries w i t h p e r s o n n e l b u n k e r s for their c r e w s a l o n g with protected ammunition bunkers. O n F e b r u a r y 2 7 / 2 8 , 1 9 4 2 , the c o m m a n d o s struck F r a n c e a g a i n at Bruneval, spiriting a w a y a secret G e r m a n c o a s t a l radar. T h i s p r o m p t e d a n o t h e r Fiihrer directive o n M a r c h 2 3 , 1 9 4 2 w h i c h r e c o g n i z e d t h a t w i t h the s e t b a c k s in R u s s i a , the Atlantic c o a s t eventually m i g h t be threatened with A n g l o - A m e r i c a n a t t a c k s . T h e h i g h e s t p r i o r i t i e s for f o r t i f i c a t i o n r e m a i n e d N o r w a y a n d the C h a n n e l I s l a n d s . T h e fortification c o n s t r u c t i o n e s c a l a t e d a h u n d r e d f o l d f r o m a n initial 3 , 0 0 0 c u b i c m e t e r s o f reinforced c o n c r e t e u s e d in O c t o b e r 1 9 4 1 to 3 7 3 , 7 0 0 c u b i c m e t e r s in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 2 . In s p i t e o f t h e s u r g e in c o n s t r u c t i o n , the N e w W e s t w a l l p r o g r a m h a d limited r e s o u r c e s d u e t o the d e m a n d s of the R u s s i a n front. T h e p r i m a r y f o c u s o f the c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s a r o u n d m a j o r p o r t s , since these w e r e v i e w e d a s the m o s t a t t r a c t i v e t a r g e t s for British r a i d s . T o p r i o r i t i z e the c o n s t r u c t i o n , a few d o z e n key p o r t s were designated as fortified areas (Festungsbereicben). T h e St. N a z a i r e r a i d , w h i c h o c c u r r e d o n M a r c h 2 8 o n l y a f e w d a y s after the F i i h r e r d i r e c t i v e , o n l y s e r v e d t o i l l u s t r a t e the c o n t i n u i n g v u l n e r a b i l i t y o f the p o r t s . B y J u n e 1 9 4 2 , the N e w W e s t w a l l for the first t i m e a b s o r b e d m o r e c o n c r e t e t h a n the U - b o a t b u n k e r p r o g r a m . O n A u g u s t 1 3 , 1 9 4 2 H i t l e r held a m e e t i n g w i t h s e n i o r officials t o outline the s t r a t e g i c a i m o f w h a t he n o w d u b b e d Atlantikwall, the A t l a n t i c Wall. " T h e r e is o n l y o n e b a t t l e f r o n t (the R u s s i a n F r o n t ) . T h e other f r o n t s c a n only be d e f e n d e d w i t h m o d e s t f o r c e s . . . D u r i n g the winter, w i t h f a n a t i c a l zeal, a f o r t r e s s m u s t b e b u i l t w h i c h will h o l d in all c i r c u m s t a n c e s . . . e x c e p t by a n
8
a t t a c k lasting for w e e k s . " F o r the first t i m e , H i t l e r l a i d o u t s o m e d e t a i l s o f the s c o p e o f the p r o g r a m , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e Atlantikwall w o u l d involve 1 5 , 0 0 0 b u n k e r s a n d 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 t r o o p s o n the A t l a n t i c c o a s t f r o m S p a i n t o the N e t h e r l a n d s t o be finished b y M a y 1 9 4 3 , the earliest t i m e a n A l l i e d i n v a s i o n o f w e s t e r n E u r o p e w a s likely. T h i s p r o g r a m d i d n o t a d d r e s s the s p e c i f i c r e q u i r e m e n t s for S c a n d i n a v i a , t h o u g h H i t l e r c o n s i d e r e d the p r o j e c t s there t o be p a r t of the o v e r a l l Atlantikwall effort. H e r e i t e r a t e d t h a t the f o c u s s h o u l d be the defense o f p o r t s t h a t w e r e v i e w e d a s the m o s t likely Allied o b j e c t i v e s w h i l e the o p e n b e a c h e s in b e t w e e n p o r t s w e r e a s s i g n e d a l o w e r p r i o r i t y . T h e A u g u s t 1 9 4 2 directive substantially shifted the focus of Atlantikwall defenses. While priority h a d previously g o n e to the C h a n n e l Islands a n d N o r w a y , the f o c u s w a s n o w shifted t o the F r e n c h a n d B e l g i a n C h a n n e l c o a s t . O f the 1 5 , 0 0 0 b u n k e r s in the p r o g r a m , 1 1 , 0 0 0 w e r e a l l o c a t e d t o the A O K . 7 a n d A O K . 1 5 (Armeeoberkommando, A r m y high c o m m a n d ) , which covered f r o m the w e s t e r n N e t h e r l a n d s t h r o u g h B e l g i u m t o N o r m a n d y . T h e A O K . l o n the A t l a n t i c c o a s t o f F r a n c e w a s a l l o t t e d 1 , 5 0 0 t o 2 , 0 0 0 b u n k e r s a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g b u n k e r s w e r e a u t h o r i z e d for the N e t h e r l a n d s . T h i s shift in p r i o r i t y w a s in p a r t d u e t o the i m m i n e n t c o m p l e t i o n o f m u c h o f the fortification w o r k o n the C h a n n e l I s l a n d s , b u t m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y t o the g r o w i n g t h r e a t o f A l l i e d i n v a s i o n . O n l y d a y s after this c o n f e r e n c e , the Allies s t r u c k w i t h a m a s s i v e raid at D i e p p e , o n A u g u s t 1 7 , 1 9 4 2 . T h e D i e p p e r a i d o n l y s e r v e d t o r e i n f o r c e the u r g e n c y o f the p r o g r a m , t h o u g h it d i d n o t l e a d t o a n y m a j o r c h a n g e in its s c o p e . Its o n e technical effect w a s t o f o c u s the n e e d for better p r o t e c t i o n o f the c o a s t a l artillery b a t t e r i e s t h a t w e r e v u l n e r a b l e in o p e n g u n p i t s . construction, T h e A u g u s t directive led t o the first m a j o r w a v e o f Atlantikwall the Winterbauprogramm (Winter C o n s t r u c t i o n P r o g r a m ) f r o m S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 2 t h r o u g h A p r i l 1 9 4 3 . A l t h o u g h the f o c u s r e m a i n e d o n r e i n f o r c i n g the n u m e r o u s c o a s t a l batteries a l r e a d y d e p l o y e d a l o n g the c o a s t , the D i e p p e r a i d e m p h a s i z e d the n e e d t o shield the g u n b a t t e r i e s w i t h i n f a n t r y p o s i t i o n s a n d t o e s t a b l i s h d e f e n s e s a l o n g the s o - c a l l e d Freie Kuste ( o p e n c o a s t ) , the c o a s t a l a r e a s b e t w e e n the p o r t s a n d other defensive z o n e s . Hitler d r e w the c o n c l u s i o n t h a t the g u n b a t t e r i e s h a d t o b e e n c a s e d in s t e e l - r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e , a n d i n s i s t e d t h a t he p r e f e r r e d " 2 0 p r o t e c t e d g u n s t o 2 0 0 u n p r o t e c t e d g u n s . " T h i s initiated the Scbartenbauprogramm in the s p r i n g o f 1 9 4 3 . T h e Atlantikwall c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o g r a m relied o n s t a n d a r d i z e d b u n k e r d e s i g n s p r e p a r e d by the a r m y ' s F o r t i f i c a t i o n E n g i n e e r C o r p s in Berlin. T h e original Westwall fortifications h a d been d e s i g n a t e d in the O B (Offene Bettung, o p e n p l a t f o r m ) or V f (Verstarkfeldmassig, r e i n f o r c e d field p o s i t i o n ) series. A l t h o u g h s o m e of these d e s i g n a t i o n s w e r e r e t a i n e d d u r i n g the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the Atlantic Wall, a n e w series of d e s i g n a t i o n s e m e r g e d . T h e r e is s o m e disparity in h o w these designs are identified, s o , for e x a m p l e , the " 6 1 1 " b u n k e r d e s i g n is variously called B a u f o r m 6 1 1 (construction p l a n 6 1 1 ) ; R 6 1 1 ( R e g e l b a u 6 1 1 :
Some units s h o w e d considerable i n g e n u i t y in c a m o u f l a g i n g bunkers like this example painted t o resemble a house in Ostend. (National Archives Canada PA-1744386) 9
c o n s t r u c t i o n s t a n d a r d 6 1 1 ) o r H 6 1 1 (Heer 6 1 1 : A r m y 6 1 1 ) t o distinguish a r m y bunkers from air force (L: Luftwaffe) a n d navy ( M : Kriegsmarine) bunker d e s i g n s . T h e r e w e r e a b o u t 7 0 0 o f these s t a n d a r d d e s i g n s , o f w h i c h a b o u t 2 5 0 w e r e u s e d o n the Atlantic Wall; m o s t o f the n e w designs intended for the Atlantikwall w e r e in t h e n e w 6 0 0 series. It s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d t h a t these d e s i g n s w e r e often m o d i f i e d in the field t o better m a t c h local terrain c o n t o u r s . B e s i d e s the s t a n d a r d i z e d d e s i g n s , there w e r e localized v a r i a t i o n s o f s t a n d a r d p l a n s a s well a s entirely n e w d e s i g n s , s o m e t i m e s identified with a n S K suffix for Sonderkonstruktion (special d e s i g n ) . In g e n e r a l , O r g a n i z a t i o n T o d t d i s t i n g u i s h e d b e t w e e n t w o m a i n c a t e g o r i e s o f f o r t i f i c a t i o n : the p e r m a n e n t (stdndige) " b o m b p r o o f " b u n k e r s , w h i c h w e r e fully e n c l o s e d t y p e s , a n d r e i n f o r c e d field f o r t i f i c a t i o n s , w h i c h w e r e usually open-topped a n d included such types a s open gunpits a n d the ubiquitous T o b r u k . T h e latter w a s a s m a l l d e f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n n a m e d after i m p r o v i s e d d e f e n s e s d u r i n g t h e fighting a r o u n d T o b r u k in 1 9 4 2 t h a t h a d been c r e a t e d u s i n g c o n c r e t e d r a i n a g e p i p e s . Officially called Ringstande, the T o b r u k s w e r e typically u s e d a s w e a p o n s s t a n d s fitted w i t h a n o p e n ring p o s i t i o n a t o n e end. M o s t w e r e built f o r u s e a s m a c h i n e - g u n p o s i t i o n s , b u t they w e r e a r m e d w i t h a variety of w e a p o n s including m o r t a r s , pedestal-mounted guns a n d obsolete tank turrets (Panzerstellungen). T h e r e w e r e five m a i n types o f p e r m a n e n t , b o m b p r o o f b u n k e r s . T h e m o s t c o m m o n w a s the Unterstand (bunker) w h i c h c a m e in three m a i n varieties: the p e r s o n n e l b u n k e r (Unterstand fur Mannscha)Hen), m u n i t i o n s s t o r a g e bunker (Unterstand fiir Munition) a n d t h e relatively u n c o m m o n w e a p o n s g a r a g e (Unterstand fiir Waff en und Gerat). T h e s e b u n k e r s m a d e u p m o r e than half of all the p e r m a n e n t b u n k e r s . T h e utility b u n k e r s (Versorgungsstande) were very similar in design a n d included m e d i c a l , kitchen a n d other miscellaneous types. T h e s e c o n d m o s t c o m m o n t y p e o f p e r m a n e n t b u n k e r w a s the g u n c a s e m a t e (Schartenstand), which w a s a fully enclosed g u n bunker with a n o p e n e m b r a s u r e a n d these m a d e u p a b o u t a third o f the p e r m a n e n t b u n k e r s o n the Atlantikwall w i t h w i d e s p r e a d c o n s t r u c t i o n b e g i n n i n g in t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 4 3 . T h e s e were s u p p o r t e d by dedicated fire-control/observation bunkers (Beobachtungsstande). T a b l e 1 : Atlantikwall Region
bunker construction
AOK.15
AOK.7
AOK.1
Netherlands
Denmark
Norway
Total
Personnel
946
960
554
357
814
Storage
396
181
149
114
184
213
1,237
HQ
118
68
42
39
95
24
386
Gun casemate
767
876
733
241
432
131
3,180
Observation
54
34
46
6
88
43
271
Utility
72
57
42
13
140
24
348
Tobruks
2,399
3,142
1,338
1,596
7
?
Total
4,752
5,318
2,904
2,366
7,753
435
17,528
708
1,566
818
383
7,314
2,532
13,321
6.7
3.4
3.5
6.1
>0.24
>0.17
1.3
Coastline (km) Density/km
3,631
fortifications on the North Sea
Atlantikwall
Navy Coastal Artillery Batteries 2./MAA.201 3./MAA.201 4./MAA.201 5./MAA.201 6./MAA.201 7./MAA.201 8./MAA.201 9./MAA.201 9. 1 ./MAA.202 10. 4./MAA.202 11. 5./MAA.202 12. 6./MAA.202 13. 7./MAA.202 ./MAA.202 14 15. 9./MAA.202 16. 2./MAA.203 17. 3./MAA.203 18. 4./MAA.203 19. 1./MAA.204 20. 2./MAA.204 21. 3./MAA.204 22. 4./MAA.204 23. 5./MAA.204 24. 6./MAA.204 25. 7./MAA.204 26. 1./MAA.205 27. 2./MAA.205 28. 3./MAA.205 29. 4./MAA.205 30. 5./MAA.205 31. 6./MAA.205 32. 7./MAA.205 33. 8./MAA.205 34. 1./MAA.607 35. 2./MAA.607 36. 3./MAA.607 37. 4./MAA.607 38. 5./MAA.607 39. 6./MAA.607 40. 7./MAA.607 41. 8./MAA.607 42. 9./MAA.607 43. 10./MAA.607 44. 11./MAA.607
Navy Coastal Flak Batteries 45. 2./MFA.246 46. 3./MFA.246 47. 4./MFA.246 48. 5./MFA.246 49. 1./MFA.808 50. 2./MFA.808 51. 3./MFA.808 52. 5./MFA.808 53. 1./MFA.810 54. 3./MFA.810 55. 1./MFA.813 56. 2./MFA.813 57. 3./MFA.813 58. 4./MFA.813 59. 5./MFA.813 60. 2./MFA.815 61. 3./MFA.815 62. 4./MFA.815 63. 5./MFA.815 64. 1./MFA.816 65. 2./MFA.816 66. 3./MFA.816 67. 4./MFA.816 68. 5./MFA.816
Army Coastal Artillery Batteries A. 1./HKAA.1230 B. 2./HKAA.1230 C. 3./HKAA.1230 4./HKAA.1230 5./HKAA.1230 6./HKAA.1230 1./HKAA.1231 2./HKAA.1231 3./HKAA.1231 4./HKAA.1231 5./HKAA.1231 1./HKAA.1240 4./HKAA.1240 5./HKAA.1240 6./HKAA.1240
StPG Schiermonnikoog
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StPG Callantsoog 4 r
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StPG Petten A | StPG Schoorl * 4 3 StPG Castricumj44
Festung IJmuiden 6 J A
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StPGZandvoort63l^2A63 6
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StPG Katwijk l (DC • 6 Festung
Amsterdam
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StPG Oostvoorne ^ 0 ^ 2 9 ^
StPG Goeree StPG Schouwenj^
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VB V53 Vlissingen A A 5 4 4 1 5 1
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StPG Breskens18 16 StPG Zeebrugge^ StPG Oostende20
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50km
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T h e r e m a i n i n g t y p e s i n c l u d e d a variety o f h e a d q u a r t e r s command
Verteidigungsbereich - Defence Zone Stiizpunktgruppe - Strongpoint Group Heeres Kusten Artillerie Abteilung - Army Coastal Artillery Regiment Marine Artillerie Abteilung - Navy Artillery Regiment Marine Flak Abteilung - Navy Flak Regiment 50 miles
posts
(Gefechtsstdnde),
and radio
posts
bunkers
such as
(Nachrichtenstdnde).
T a b l e 1 s u m m a r i z e s the m a i n t y p e s o f p e r m a n e n t b u n k e r s built a l o n g t h e
Atlantikwall
b y these c a t e g o r i e s . T h e A O K . 1 5 sector, w h i c h stretched
from
the Pas-de-Calais in France a l o n g the Belgian c o a s t a n d u p t o the Scheldt E s t u a r y in the N e t h e r l a n d s , h a d by far the greatest density o f p e r m a n e n t b u n k e r s . T h e N e t h e r l a n d s a l s o h a d a relatively dense a l l o t m e n t o f b u n k e r s , f o l l o w e d by the r e m a i n i n g a r e a s o f t h e F r e n c h c o a s t , A O K . 7 in N o r m a n d y a n d A O K . l o n the Atlantic c o a s t a n d B a y o f Biscay. B o t h D e n m a r k a n d N o r w a y h a d relatively thin bunker c o v e r a g e ; details a r e lacking o n the total n u m b e r o f T o b r u k s built in these countries, b u t even if these n u m b e r s w e r e i n c l u d e d , t h e overall total 11
n u m b e r of b u n k e r s relative t o the c o a s t l i n e w o u l d be s m a l l c o m p a r e d with the other a r e a s of the Atlantikwall. T h e N o r w e g i a n figures d o not include the n u m e r o u s fortifications created a l o n g the c o a s t either by tunneling into the rock or using q u a r r i e d r o c k for c o n s t r u c t i o n .
Defense sectors I n f a n t r y d e f e n s e s a l o n g the Atlantikwall t e n d e d t o be t h i c k e s t w h e r e the l i k e l i h o o d o f i n v a s i o n w a s g r e a t e s t , s o c o a s t a l infantry p o s i t i o n s w e r e densest in B e l g i u m a n d the N e t h e r l a n d s , w h i l e r e l a t i v e l y thin in D e n m a r k a n d N o r w a y . T h e b a s i c t a c t i c a l e l e m e n t o f the infantry c o a s t a l d e f e n s e s w a s the r e s i s t a n c e n e s t ( W o r W N : Widerstandsnest) which usually consisted of a small n u m b e r of bunkers a n d T o b r u k s , roughly between a s q u a d and platoon in size. In i m p o r t a n t s e c t o r s , a r e s i s t a n c e nest w o u l d be built a r o u n d a g u n p o s i t i o n , s u c h a s a 5 0 m m p e d e s t a l - m o u n t e d a n t i - a i r c r a f t g u n in a n o p e n T o b r u k , o r a s i m i l a r w e a p o n in a full g u n c a s e m a t e . Several r e s i s t a n c e nests f o r m e d a s t r o n g p o i n t ( S t . R : Stiitzpunkt) w h i c h w a s a p l a t o o n - s i z e d defense a t m i n i m u m , a n d s o m e t i m e s u p t o a c o m p a n y in size. Several s t r o n g p o i n t s f o r m e d a s t r o n g p o i n t g r o u p (St.P.Gr.: Stiitzpunktgruppe) which w a s between a c o m p a n y a n d a b a t t a l i o n in size a s s i g n e d a f r o n t a g e of a k i l o m e t e r or m o r e . S e v e r a l s t r o n g p o i n t g r o u p s f o r m e d a defense z o n e ( V B : Verteidigungsbereich) t h o u g h this c a t e g o r y w a s n o t w i d e l y u s e d in F r a n c e or B e l g i u m , w h i c h instead d e s i g n a t e d the r e g i m e n t a l s e c t o r s a s c o a s t a l d e f e n s e g r o u p s ( K V G : Kiisten Verteidigung Gruppen), a n d the d i v i s i o n a l s e c t o r s a s c o a s t d e f e n s e s e c t o r s ( K V A : Kiisten Verteidigung Abscbnitte).
Coastal defenses in t h e Low Countries often included an additional seawall t o prevent Allied tanks f r o m exiting t h e beach. This is a fairly typical example along t h e beach n o r t h of Nieuport. (National Archives Canada PA-174344)
T h e l a r g e s t a n d m o s t p o w e r f u l c o a s t a l d e f e n s e s e c t o r w a s the f o r t r e s s (Festung), w h i c h w a s n o t a p p l i e d t o t a c t i c a l field f o r m a t i o n s , b u t rather w a s r e s e r v e d for s t r a t e g i c a l l y i m p o r t a n t sites s u c h a s m a j o r p o r t s . T h e Festung d e s i g n a t i o n e n c o m p a s s e d all d e f e n s i v e f o r m a t i o n s in the d e f e n d e d a r e a , a n d as often as not w a s primarily c o m p o s e d of Kriegsmarine formations r e i n f o r c e d b y H e e r ( a r m y ) f o r m a t i o n s . A Festung w a s typically centered a r o u n d a c o r e p o s i t i o n (Kernwerk), w h i c h w a s a heavily fortified s t r o n g p o i n t . T h e Kernwerk c o n t r o l l e d the k e y e l e m e n t in the d e f e n s e o f the site, s u c h a s the s h o u l d e r s o f a p o r t o r a n i s l a n d c o v e r i n g a river estuary.
Coastal artillery T h e centerpiece of G e r m a n coastal defense w a s c o a s t a l artillery. A l t h o u g h there h a d been s o m e d e s i g n of specific c o a s t a l artillery w e a p o n s p r i o r t o 1 9 4 0 , the e n o r m o u s d e m a n d s of the Atlantikwall a s well a s its relatively l o w p r i o r i t y in G e r m a n industrial p l a n n i n g m e a n t t h a t n e a r l y all c o a s t a l artillery w a s a d a p t e d f r o m n a v a l or field artillery. In g e n e r a l , the K r i e g s m a r i n e e s t a b l i s h e d the initial p o r t defenses a n d t h e s e p o s i t i o n s w e r e later a m p l i f i e d b y the d e p l o y m e n t o f a r m y c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s . H o w e v e r , the p a t t e r n v a r i e d b o t h b y r e g i o n a n d t i m e , a n d these i s s u e s a r e e x a m i n e d in m o r e detail in the c o u n t r y sections o f this b o o k . 12
The interior of a Bauform 612 g u n casemate a r m e d w i t h a 7 5 m m PaK 40 anti-tank. This bunker is part of t h e D o m a i n Raversijde in Ostend, and t h e g u n is located further back in t h e casemate t h a n in w a r t i m e since t h e embrasure is covered t o protect t h e interior f r o m t h e weather. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
Neither the a r m y nor navy c o u l d agree o n c o a s t a l artillery doctrine or tactical practices. T h e n a v y r e g a r d e d their c o a s t a l artillery a s a l a n d - b a s e d version o f w a r s h i p artillery a n d f o l l o w e d similar fire-control p r a c t i c e s . K r i e g s m a r i n e coastal artillery batteries w e r e nearly a l w a y s p l a c e d n e a r the s h o r e with direct view to sea s o that the g u n s c o u l d e n g a g e e n e m y w a r s h i p s by direct sighting if necessary. N a v a l tactical doctrine stressed the n e e d t o e n g a g e m o v i n g e n e m y w a r s h i p s , s o n a v a l fire-control s t a t i o n s a s s i g n e d t o e a c h b a t t e r y h a d r a n g e finders a n d plotting tables to detect, t r a c k , a n d target e n e m y w a r s h i p s a n d to p a s s this d a t a to the batteries. Besides the essential fire c o n t r o l p o s t (Leitstand), the naval batteries often h a d a s e p a r a t e a n g l e - m e a s u r i n g p o s t (Peilstand) located s o m e distance f r o m the m a i n battery to ensure greater precision of range-finding. T h e navy preferred to m o u n t their g u n s o n fixed, traversing m o u n t s , w h i c h in practice m e a n t shielded m e d i u m g u n s a n d shielded or turreted h e a v y g u n s o n sockets. In practice, the n a v y w a s s o m e t i m e s o b l i g e d t o use field g u n s d u e t o shortages of suitable n a v a l g u n s .
The Batterie Saltzwedel neu/Tirpitz of 6./M AA.204 o n t h e western side of Ostend was armed with pintle-mounted 1 0 5 m m SKC/32U submarine guns in Bauform 671 casemates starting in April 1944. This well-preserved example is part of t h e D o m a i n Raversijde m u s e u m ; t h e embrasure is covered by a w i n d o w t o protect it f r o m t h e weather. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
13
T h e a r m y preferred to l o c a t e its c o a s t a l batteries s o m e d i s t a n c e f r o m s h o r e s o that the batteries w e r e n o t i m m e d i a t e l y evident to e n e m y w a r s h i p g u n s . T h e a r m y s a w its m a i n m i s s i o n a s repel i n v a s i o n s or r a i d i n g parties, and engaging moving enemy w a r s h i p s w a s n o t a high priority. T h e a r m y d i d n o t like fixed artillery for c o a s t a l defense, b u t p r e f e r r e d n o r m a l field g u n s . This w a s b a s e d o n the experiences of World War I, such a s t h o s e at G a l l i p o l i , w h e r e the a r m y d r e w the c o n c l u s i o n that it w o u l d be impossible to protect a n e x t e n d e d shoreline with sufficient w e a p o n s , a n d instead o p t e d to keep the c o a s t a l artillery m o b i l e s o t h a t it c o u l d be m o v e d t o a t h r e a t e n e d s e c t o r o n c e the s i t u a t i o n b e c a m e clearer. T h i s p r o v e d to be a very s h o r t - s i g h t e d tactical n o t i o n ; Allied W o r l d W a r II a m p h i b i o u s l a n d i n g s h a d a l s o t a k e n the G a l l i p o l i lessons to heart a n d f a v o r e d brief, violent, a n d o v e r w h e l m i n g a t t a c k s that w o u l d n o t a l l o w the W e h r m a c h t t i m e t o b r i n g u p a d d i t i o n a l artillery t o repel the l a n d i n g s . In the event, a r m y tactical doctrine resulted
-
in battery fire-control c o n f i g u r a t i o n s t h a t p l a c e d little e m p h a s i s o n m o v i n g target plotting, a n d thus h a d little c a p a b i l i t y t o e n g a g e m o v i n g t a r g e t s b e y o n d ordinary direct sight e n g a g e m e n t . A S w e d i s h c o a s t a l artillery survey of G e r m a n practices after the w a r s t r o n g l y f a v o r e d the K r i e g s m a r i n e p r a c t i c e s o v e r the Heer's doctrine.
A quick source of coastal defenses came f r o m t h e use of w a r - b o o t y tank turrets like this APX-2B turret f r o m Belgian armyACG-1 cavalry tanks. A total of 13 of these were used along t h e Belgian
Coastal obstacles
coast, this o n e at Ostend.
T h e W e h r m a c h t u s e d v a r i o u s t y p e s o f c o a s t a l o b s t a c l e t o i m p e d e the A l l i e d use of l a n d i n g craft. T h i s p r o g r a m w a s a p a r t i c u l a r favorite of E r w i n R o m m e l w h e n he t o o k o v e r the i n v a s i o n f r o n t in the a u t u m n o f 1 9 4 3 . T h e s e o b s t a c l e s w e r e e s p e c i a l l y d e n s e in B e l g i u m a n d the N e t h e r l a n d s , b u t q u i t e s p a r s e in N o r w a y . T h e y a r e c o v e r e d in m o r e detail in the p r e v i o u s b o o k in this series o n the A t l a n t i c Wall in F r a n c e ( F o r t r e s s 6 3 ) .
(A. Chazette)
Coastal artillery radar Until W o r l d W a r II, c o a s t a l artillery w a s m o r e effective in d a y l i g h t h o u r s . N i g h t e n g a g e m e n t s d e p e n d e d o n i l l u m i n a t i o n o f the t a r g e t w i t h f l a r e s o r
||]
RHEINMETALL 150MM C/36 DESTROYER GUN IN COASTAL MOUNTING
O n e o f t h e m o s t c o m m o n naval g u n s u s e d in K r i e g s m a r i n e
h a d a special a d a p t o r t o b o l t it t o t h e f l o o r o f t h e c a s e m a t e .
Atlantikwall
The g u n fired a 45.3kg projectile t o a m a x i m u m range
g u n b a t t e r i e s was t h e 1 5 c m T o r p e d o b o o t s
K a n o n e (Tbts K) C/36. This d e s t r o y e r g u n h a d b e e n d e v e l o p e d b y R h e i n m e t a l l in t h e early 1930s, a n d t h e s e w e a p o n s w e r e
of 23.5km. The M 2 7 2 was part of a family o f similar g u n casemates
usually d e p l o y e d in t h e n o r m a l T b t s LC/36 m o u n t w h i c h
{Geschutzschartenstande),
employed a conventional armor splinter-shield covering
w i t h 27 b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d in N o r w a y (5), D e n m a r k (10),
all o f t h e g u n e x c e p t t h e rear. T h e g u n a n d m o u n t w e i g h e d
N e t h e r l a n d s (4) a n d France (8). This w e a p o n w a s also m o u n t e d
18.8 m e t r i c t o n s a n d e m p l o y e d a c o n v e n t i o n a l s o c k e t w h i c h
in o t h e r t y p e s o f g u n c a s e m a t e s , s u c h as t h e B a u f o r m 6 7 1 .
a n d t h e first w a s b u i l t in A p r i l 1943
In t h e age before radar, searchlights and flares were t h e primary means of n i g h t illumination for coastal artillery batteries. This is a 60cm Flakscheinwerfer 36 preserved at t h e Domain Raversijde m u s e u m in an anti-aircraft g u n pit. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
s e a r c h l i g h t s . T h e s e t r a d i t i o n a l t e c h n i q u e s w e r e far f r o m s a t i s f a c t o r y in the e v e n t o f s t r o n g w i n d s , f o g or o t h e r w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s t h a t w e r e a frequent o c c u r r e n c e a l o n g the c o a s t . T h e a d v e n t o f n a v a l s u r f a c e - s e a r c h r a d a r o p e n e d u p the p o s s i b i l i t y o f c r e a t i n g a l l - w e a t h e r , 2 4 - h o u r c o a s t a l d e f e n s e s . T h e K r i e g s m a r i n e h a d b e e n the p i o n e e r s of G e r m a n military r a d a r a n d h a d b e g u n t o r e c e i v e t h e F r e y a e a r l y w a r n i n g r a d a r in 1 9 3 8 ; a b o u t a h u n d r e d w e r e c o m p l e t e d p r i o r t o the o u t b r e a k o f the war, b u t m a n y w e r e r e q u i s i t i o n e d by the L u f t w a f f e for air d e f e n s e . F r e y a w a s f o l l o w e d shortly a f t e r w a r d s by the Seetakt (sea-tactical) r a d a r s , w h i c h w e r e the first d e d i c a t e d s u r f a c e - s e a r c h n a v a l r a d a r s . T h e L u f t w a f f e s p o n s o r e d a s e p a r a t e d e v e l o p m e n t t r a c k , a n d the W i i r z b u r g family of fire-control r a d a r s for directing flak batteries w a s r e a d y in 1 9 4 0 . After a p r o m i s i n g start, G e r m a n r a d a r d e v e l o p m e n t s t a g n a t e d until 1 9 4 3 d u e to 1 9 4 1 d e c i s i o n s t o cut l o n g - t e r m a d v a n c e d research o n the p r e s u m p t i o n that the w a r w o u l d s o o n be over. T h e history of G e r m a n w a r t i m e r a d a r d e v e l o p m e n t is t o o c o m p l i c a t e d t o c h a r t h e r e , b u t the p r o g r a m h a d several effects o n G e r m a n c o a s t a l defenses. S u r f a c e s e a r c h r a d a r s such a s Seetakt p r o v e d to be well suited
LEFT
The most c o m m o n Kriegsmarine coastal radar o n t h e Atlantikwall
was t h e
FuMO-215 Wiirzburg-Reise, w h i c h was used b o t h in t h e tactical search role, and in some cases as a dedicated artillery fire c o n t r o l radar. (NARA) RIGHT
The FuMO-11 R e n n e r w a s t h e Kreigsmarine's first a t t e m p t at a dedicated microwave artillery fire control radar, b u t technical problems w i t h t h e design severely curtailed its d e p l o y m e n t . (NARA)
16
to the early w a r n i n g role a n d c o u l d p r o v i d e g o o d , all-weather c o v e r a g e o u t to the h o r i z o n of e n e m y s h i p p i n g , a s l o n g a s the Allies were n o t e m p l o y i n g electronic j a m m i n g . T h e K r i e g s m a r i n e created a N a v a l Tactical R a d a r Service a n d erected a chain of c o a s t a l r a d a r s a s p a r t of the Atlantikwall effort. B y 1 9 4 2 , these early r a d a r s a l l o w e d G e r m a n c o a s t a l artillery t o e n g a g e British s h i p p i n g in the C h a n n e l . T h e s e surface-search r a d a r s w e r e n o t a c c u r a t e e n o u g h in a z i m u t h even if r e a s o n a b l y a c c u r a t e in r a n g e , a n d this led t o further interest in dedicated fire-control r a d a r s . The small n u m b e r of naval r a d a r s available did not permit each gun battery or even e a c h r e g i m e n t t o h a v e its o w n station. The Kriegsmarine established O Z (Ortungszentralen: n a v a l radar reporting centers) a s the link b e t w e e n the r a d a r s t a t i o n s a n d the v a r i o u s o t h e r e l e m e n t s o f c o a s t d e f e n s e . Air d a t a w a s e x c h a n g e d w i t h the L u f t w a f f e ' s F M Z (Flugmelderzentralen: aircraft r e p o r t i n g c e n t e r s ) w h i l e n a v a l d a t a w a s p a s s e d t o the r e g i o n a l S e e k o . T h e S e e k o r e g i o n a l c o m m a n d c e n t e r s h a d a n artillery staff a n d this staff in t u r n p a s s e d the d a t a d o w n t o the artillery g r o u p c o m m a n d e r s a n d then on d o w n to the individual g u n batteries by t e l e p h o n e . T h i s w a s n o t a n e s p e c i a l l y efficient m e t h o d f o r f a s t - m o v i n g e n g a g e m e n t s a n d led t o i n t e r e s t in the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s m a l l , i n e x p e n s i v e r a d a r s t a t i o n s t h a t c o u l d be d e p l o y e d a t the b a t t e r y level. D e v e l o p m e n t o f t a c t i c a l artillery fire-direction r a d a r s w a s n o t m a t u r e in G e r m a n y in 1 9 4 4 - 4 5 . G e r m a n y a t t e m p t e d t o a d a p t A l l i e d m i c r o w a v e t e c h n o l o g y t o the S e e t a k t w i t h the c e n t i m e t r i c F u M O - 1 1 ( R e n n e r ) r a d a r for m o r e precise a z i m u t h d a t a . H o w e v e r , the R e n n e r suffered s e r i o u s reliability p r o b l e m s a n d w a s never p r o d u c e d in a d e q u a t e q u a n t i t i e s . In the a b s e n c e o f this c o m p a c t fire-control r a d a r , the K r i e g s m a r i n e w a s o b l i g e d t o rely o n the large F u M O - 2 1 4 W i i r z b u r g - R i e s e ( G i a n t W i i r z b u r g ) , a n excellent a l l - p u r p o s e r a d a r originally d e s i g n e d for a i r c r a f t d e t e c t i o n a n d flak c o n t r o l . T h e s e w e r e d e p l o y e d by the K r i e g s m a r i n e in the c o a s t a l r o l e b o t h for s u r f a c e s e a r c h a n d artillery fire d i r e c t i o n , b u t the size o f the r a d a r m e a n t t h a t they c o u l d o n l y b e e m p l o y e d f r o m l a r g e f i x e d sites, a n d w e r e very v u l n e r a b l e t o A l l i e d a t t a c k . A derivative o f the F u M O - 2 1 4 c o d e n a m e d F u M O - 2 1 4 / - 2 1 5 Scheer w a s a l s o d e v e l o p e d s p e c i f i c a l l y for artillery fire d i r e c t i o n a n d it o f f e r e d b e t t e r n a r r o w - b e a m a c c u r a c y a n d g r e a t e r r e s i s t a n c e t o j a m m i n g ; it w a s n e v e r a v a i l a b l e in a d e q u a t e n u m b e r s . A third fire-control r a d a r , the B a r b a r a , w a s a l s o in d e v e l o p m e n t b u t n o t w i d e l y d e p l o y e d . T h e d e p l o y m e n t patterns of K r i e g s m a r i n e c o a s t a l r a d a r s varied c o n s i d e r a b l y from country to country. In the N e t h e r l a n d s , the 4 1 s t R a d a r C o m p a n y d e p l o y e d 3 2 naval surveillance r a d a r s , with only o n e at L a n g e r a k dedicated to artillery fire control a n d n o n e in the air search role. In c o n t r a s t , of the 4 1 c o a s t a l r a d a r s in N o r w a y , 2 2 were used for naval surveillance, 1 0 as dedicated fire control r a d a r s , a n d 9 as air search r a d a r s . T h e significant difference in a l l o t m e n t w a s d u e in p a r t to the large n u m b e r of Luftwaffe air search r a d a r s in N e t h e r l a n d s a s p a r t
A n o t h e r source of electronic early w a r n i n g of a p p r o a c h i n g Allied ships a n d aircraft w e r e passive radar m o n i t o r i n g posts like this FuMB.21/27. These picked u p t h e emissions f r o m Allied radars and this data was used t o alert t h e coastal radars. (NARA)
17
of the K a m m h u b e r line shielding G e r m a n y , a n d the c o r r e s p o n d i n g lack of need for naval air search r a d a r s . T h e large n u m b e r o f n a v a l surveillance r a d a r s in the N e t h e r l a n d s a l o n g such a s h o r t c o a s t l i n e r e d u c e d the need for d e d i c a t e d fire-control r a d a r s . Instead, the 4 1 s t R a d a r C o m p a n y deployed t w o intermediate O M Z f o r w a r d r a d a r r e p o r t i n g s t a t i o n s at ' s - G r a v e n h a g e ( T h e H a g u e ) a n d D e n H e l d e r besides the O Z r e p o r t i n g center in H a a r l e m t o m o r e q u i c k l y disseminate t r a c k i n g d a t a . In c o n t r a s t , the g u n batteries in N o r w a y l a c k e d nearby surveillance r a d a r s a n d s o s o m e of the m o r e i m p o r t a n t batteries w e r e issued their o w n F u M O - 2 1 4 radar. T h e s e disparities c o u l d be seen in p a s s i v e radar m o n i t o r i n g p o s t s a s well with nine p o s t s in the N e t h e r l a n d s a n d only t w o in all of N o r w a y . In general, G e r m a n c o a s t a l defenses h a d a d e q u a t e c o a s t a l r a d a r c o v e r a g e for n o r m a l s u r v e i l l a n c e , b u t the n e t w o r k s s e l d o m h a d the r e s o u r c e s t o p r o v i d e m u c h in the w a y of fire-control direction d u e t o a s h o r t a g e of m i c r o w a v e sets. Priority in a d v a n c e d r a d a r s w e n t t o the Luftwaffe's air defense o f the R e i c h . F u r t h e r m o r e , the G e r m a n n a v a l r a d a r n e t w o r k s s e l d o m h a d the r e s o u r c e s o r resiliency to survive dedicated Allied anti-radar c a m p a i g n s that p r e c e d e d m a j o r a m p h i b i o u s o p e r a t i o n s . T h e G e r m a n r a d a r s c o u l d be s m a s h e d by air a t t a c k a n d blinded by electronic c o u n t e r m e a s u r e s ; A n g l o - A m e r i c a n r a d a r t e c h n o l o g y r e m a i n e d years a h e a d of G e r m a n t e c h n o l o g y b o t h in t e r m s of the r a d a r s a n d electronic c o u n t e r m e a s u r e s . To m a k e u p for the shortage of r a d a r s , the Kriegsmarine attempted to develop a variety of other sensors for c o a s t a l defense. T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t of these w e r e radar interception/direction-finding receivers (FunkmejZbeobacbtungsgerdt) such a s the F u M B - 4 S a m o s a n d F u M B - 5 F a n o , w h i c h p i c k e d u p the s i g n a l s f r o m Allied aircraft a n d ship r a d a r s . T h e s e stations c o u l d often detect Allied ships at twice the distance of neighboring r a d a r s . H o w e v e r , they were not precise e n o u g h for use in fire direction, a n d were mainly used for early w a r n i n g . Allied electronic discipline d u r i n g m a j o r a m p h i b i o u s o p e r a t i o n s d r a m a t i c a l l y r e d u c e d their effectiveness, since they h a d n o value if the Allied ships a n d aircraft w e r e n o t emitting signals. A n o t h e r p a s s i v e t a r g e t d e t e c t i o n s y s t e m w a s the Z e i s s W P G - Z S t Wdrmepeilgerdt infrared detector. T h i s w a s a f o r e r u n n e r of the c o n t e m p o r a r y t h e r m a l i m a g i n g fire-control s y s t e m a n d w a s i n t e n d e d t o detect e n e m y s h i p s by the heat s i g n a t u r e . T h i s set w a s c o m p a c t e n o u g h for u s e in c o a s t a l artillery
HJ
M l 7 8 FIRE CONTROL POST, SEEZIELBATTERIE
HEERENDUIN, WN 8 1 , IJMUIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS
K r i e g s m a r i n e coastal g u n b a t t e r i e s i n c l u d e d a fire c o n t r o l
r o o m received data f r o m t h e observation decks above w h i c h
post {Leitstand)
w e r e e n t e r e d i n t o t h e fire d i r e c t i o n c o m p u t e r
t o i d e n t i f y , track, a n d d e s i g n a t e t a r g e t s f o r t h e
(Rechenschieber)
b a t t e r y . T h r e e - s t o r y posts like t h i s o n e h a d a r a n g e f i n d e r p o s t
a n d t h e n integrated w i t h bearing data f r o m an adjacent bearing
o n t h e t o p , an o b s e r v a t i o n d e c k in t h e f r o n t , a n d w o r k i n g space
c o m p u t e r {Kleingerat)
o n t h e l o w e r level. T h e r a n g e f i n d e r p o s t c o u l d use a v a r i e t y o f
Peilstand
stereoscopic r a n g e f i n d e r s , usually w a r s h i p t y p e s m o u n t e d o n
p l o t t i n g r o o m m a i n t a i n e d data o n t h e targets, usually w i t h
sockets. T h e o b s e r v a t i o n d e c k h a d v a r i e t y o f f i x e d o b s e r v a t i o n
range and deflection plotting boards. Once the target's range,
o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e battery's small
bunker located some distance away. The adjacent
devices for t a r g e t t r a c k i n g , usually a p e d e s t a l - m o u n t e d o p t i c a l
bearing, and speed were d e t e r m i n e d , a firing solution was
s i g h t for d e t e r m i n i n g b e a r i n g w i t h t h e d a t a passed e l e c t r i c a l l y
c o m p u t e d a n d passed t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l g u n s via a special
to the computing room below.
s w i t c h b o a r d {Scholtkasten).
A l t h o u g h t h e t w o observation decks w e r e t h e most obvious features of such a bunker, t h e heart of t h e o p e r a t i o n was in t h e c h a m b e r s l o c a t e d at t h e base o f t h e b u n k e r . These c o m p a r t m e n t s m i m i c k e d t h e fire c o n t r o l o n a w a r s h i p , b u t d u e
T h e fire c o n t r o l b u n k e r w a s t h e
battery's c o m m u n i c a t i o n h u b having radio and t e l e p h o n e links t o h i g h e r h e a d q u a r t e r s as w e l l as t o o t h e r b a t t e r y p o s t s . T h e M 1 7 8 c o n f i g u r a t i o n s h o w n h e r e w a s first c o n s t r u c t e d in A p r i l 1943 a n d w a s n o t e s p e c i a l l y c o m m o n , w i t h o n e e a c h
t o the fixed position of the battery, t h e firing c o m p u t a t i o n s
in N o r w a y a n d t h e N e t h e r l a n d s a n d t w o in France. H o w e v e r ,
w e r e less e l a b o r a t e t h a n o n a m o v i n g w a r s h i p . T h e c o m p u t i n g
t h e g e n e r a l f e a t u r e s w e r e fairly t y p i c a l .
batteries, h a d an a z i m u t h a c c u r a c y of t w o mils a n d could detect large w a r s h i p s t o a r a n g e o f a b o u t 1 5 - 2 0 k i l o m e t e r s . L i k e m a n y devices o n the " b l e e d i n g e d g e o f t e c h n o l o g y " it h a d r e l i a b i l i t y a n d c o s t i s s u e s ; the a r m y s h o w e d m o r e e n t h u s i a s m for it t h a n the navy. T h e V a r a b a t t e r y in N o r w a y r e c e i v e d a set in e a r l y 1 9 4 5 , a n d t h e a r m y d e p l o y e d f o u r sets in F e s t u n g S t a v a n g e r t o d e t e c t a p p r o a c h i n g l a n d i n g craft. In D e n m a r k , three sets w e r e d e p l o y e d a t E s b j e r g in 1 9 4 5 t o c o v e r the h a r b o r e n t r a n c e a n d a single set w a s b e i n g d e p l o y e d n e a r C o p e n h a g e n a t H e l l e r u p in the s p r i n g o f t h a t year.
Controlled submarine minefields
The Kriegsmarine was not especially enthusiastic a b o u t t h e use of c o n t r o l l e d mines for harbor defense, b u t began d e p l o y i n g such w e a p o n s in 1944. This is t h e most c o m m o n type, t h e RMA; t h e c o n t r o l cables that led back t o t h e shore c o m m a n d post are evident in this view. (NARA)
C o n t r o l l e d s u b m a r i n e m i n e s a r e o n e o f the o l d e s t f o r m s o f n a v a l m i n e . In c o n t r a s t t o the m o r e familiar f o r m of n a v a l m i n e s that are a r m e d w h e n they a r e d e p o s i t e d at s e a , c o n t r o l l e d m i n e s a r e c o m m a n d a c t u a t e d a n d s o r e m a i n i n a c t i v e f o r m o s t o f their d e p l o y m e n t . T h e y a r e m o s t c o m m o n l y u s e d for h a r b o r defense a n d they are especially v a l u a b l e in s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e other types o f n a v a l m i n e s w o u l d p o s e t o o g r e a t a threat t o c o m m e r c i a l w a t e r b o r n e traffic. T h e U S A r m y w a s o n e o f the m o s t e n t h u s i a s t i c p r o p o n e n t s o f c o n t r o l l e d s u b m a r i n e m i n e s a n d h a d e m p l o y e d t h e m in the d e f e n s e o f the A m e r i c a n c o a s t since the 1 9 t h century. A l t h o u g h the K r i e g s m a r i n e e m p l o y e d b u o y a n t controlled m i n e s in W o r l d W a r I, d u r i n g the r e a r m a m e n t p r o g r a m of the 1 9 3 0 s the n a v y h i g h c o m m a n d d e c i d e d a g a i n s t a m o d e r n i z e d e q u i v a l e n t . T h e British r a i d s o n D i e p p e o n A u g u s t 1 9 , 1 9 4 2 a n d St. N a z a i r e o n M a r c h 2 8 , 1 9 4 3 m a d e it quite clear t h a t G e r m a n h a r b o r defenses w e r e i n a d e q u a t e a n d that controlled m i n e s c o u l d p r o v i d e a useful a d j u n c t t o other m e a n s of h a r b o r defense such a s c o a s t a l artillery. T h e K r i e g s m a r i n e h a d b e e n r e l u c t a n t t o p l a n t extensive m i n e f i e l d s b l o c k i n g m a j o r p o r t s d u e t o the h a z a r d they p o s e d t o n o r m a l fishing a n d c o m m e r c i a l traffic a s well a s their o w n w a r s h i p s . T h e controlled minefields p e r m i t t e d n o r m a l active minefields t o be set u p a r o u n d the p o r t s , w i t h a single clear c h a n n e l c o v e r e d by c o n t r o l l e d s u b m a r i n e m i n e s t h a t c o u l d be left d o r m a n t until a n a t t a c k o c c u r r e d . T h e v a l u e of c o n t r o l l e d s u b m a r i n e m i n e s r e m a i n e d controversial within the K r i e g s m a r i n e , b u t a p r o g r a m w a s b e g u n in 1 9 4 3 . R a t h e r t h a n d e v e l o p a n e w m i n e , four existing types of s e a b e d m i n e s w e r e m o d i f i e d a s c o n t r o l l e d m i n e s by a d d i n g w a t e r t i g h t fittings for c a b l e s t o c o n n e c t t h e m t o s h o r e . T h e mines w e r e p l a n t e d o n the s h o r e b o t t o m a n d connected by underwater cable to a shore control station. The control station could c o m m a n d - d e t o n a t e the mines b a s e d on visual t r a c k i n g of a n e n e m y vessel, or I b a s e d o n the m a g n e t i c s i g n a t u r e of the e n e m y vessel f r o m the m a g n e t i c detector in the m i n e itself w h e n the ship p a s s e d overhead. The mines c o u l d a l s o be activated to o p e r a t e in a n o r m a l , a u t o m a t i c m o d e , relying o n their m a g n e t i c detector. In total, 2 5 h a r b o r s w e r e fitted with 7 2 9 controlled w
s u b m a r i n e m i n e s in 1 9 4 4 - 4 5 , with 1 2 of these p o r t s in F r a n c e . B o t h D e n m a r k a n d the N e t h e r l a n d s h a d five p o r t s c o v e r e d , while B e l g i u m h a d t w o a n d N o r w a y only o n e . 20
One of t h e solutions t o t h e threat of British m i d g e t submarines was t o d e p l o y these Rheinmetall-Borsig R300 rocket-propelled d e p t h charge launchers t o Norwegian a n d Danish ports in 1944-45. (NARA)
The midget submarine threat T h e R o y a l N a v y b e g a n t o p r o b e G e r m a n h a r b o r d e f e n s e s in N o r w a y w i t h m i d g e t s u b m a r i n e s , s t a r t i n g w i t h a f a i l e d C h a r i o t a t t a c k o n the b a t t l e s h i p Tirpitz in the T r o n d h e i m f j o r d in O c t o b e r 1 9 4 2 . T h i s a t t a c k w a s f o l l o w e d b y a p a r t i a l l y successful a t t a c k o n Tirpitz o n S e p t e m b e r 2 2 , 1 9 4 3 by X - C r a f t , a n d a failed p e n e t r a t i o n o f B e r g e n h a r b o r b y W e l m a n c r a f t in N o v e m b e r 1 9 4 3 . T h e p r i n c i p a l u n d e r w a t e r d e f e n s e t o this p o i n t h a d b e e n a n t i - t o r p e d o b o o m s and nets, which were obviously inadequate. T h e Kriegsmarine b e g a n t o investigate t e c h n i q u e s b o t h for the d e t e c t i o n o f the m i d g e t s u b m a r i n e s a s well a s m e a n s t o a t t a c k t h e m o n c e d e t e c t e d . U n l i k e the R o y a l N a v y a n d U S N a v y , w h i c h h a d a l r e a d y d e p l o y e d s e a b e d m a g n e t i c a n o m a l y d e t e c t o r s , the K r i e g s m a r i n e d i d n o t u s e this t e c h n i q u e for h a r b o r d e f e n s e , a l t h o u g h s u c h a s y s t e m w a s u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t by 1 9 4 5 . T h e K r i e g s m a r i n e d i d a t t e m p t t o d e p l o y a c o u s t i c s e n s o r s , the E l e k t r o a k u s t i c K H A {Kiistenhorchanlage) and the c o m p e t i n g A t l a s W e r k e K U G - 5 . T h e s e w e r e p a s s i v e a c o u s t i c s t a t i o n s t h a t w e r e a n c h o r e d in h a r b o r s t o listen for e n e m y s u b m a r i n e s , u s u a l l y w i t h m u l t i p l e s t a t i o n s t o m a k e it p o s s i b l e t o t r i a n g u l a t e the s o u r c e o f the s o u n d . O n e of the K H A s y s t e m s w a s d e p l o y e d a t H o r n b a e k in D e n m a r k , b u t the a c o u s t i c s y s t e m s w e r e m o s t w i d e l y u s e d in N o r w e g i a n h a r b o r s , w i t h s o m e 10 sets d e p l o y e d in 6 h a r b o r s a n d f j o r d s b y 1 9 4 5 . Rheinmetall-Borsig had already begun work on a rocket-propelled anti-submarine depth-charge launcher, the b r e e c h - l o a d e d , single tube 3 8 0 m m R a k e t e n w e r f e r 3 0 0 M 4 3 w h i c h fired a 3 0 0 k g r o c k e t p r o j e c t i l e w i t h a 1 5 8 k g e x p l o s i v e c h a r g e t o a r a n g e of a b o u t 3 k m . A s m a l l n u m b e r w e r e sent for trials w i t h M A A . 5 0 6 a t A g d e n e s in the T r o n d h e i m f j o r d in A p r i l 1 9 4 4 w h e r e they w e r e j u d g e d t o be r e a s o n a b l y s u c c e s s f u l . T h e y w e r e d e p l o y e d in m o d e s t n u m b e r s w i t h c o a s t a l artillery batteries t o p r o t e c t h a r b o r s in N o r w a y a s well a s w i t h 2 . / M A A . 5 1 8 in D e n m a r k in the E s b j e r g d e f e n s e sector. S o far a s is k n o w n , they w e r e n o t u s e d in c o m b a t .
Coastal commando units O n e of the m o s t d e s p e r a t e i n n o v a t i o n s in G e r m a n c o a s t a l d e f e n s e w a s the c r e a t i o n of s p e c i a l n a v a l c o m m a n d o u n i t s in 1 9 4 4 . D e s u l t o r y e f f o r t s t o d e v e l o p m i n i a t u r e s u b m a r i n e s b e g a n in 1 9 4 3 , s p u r r e d o n b o t h by B r i t i s h 21
The K-Verbande submarine units were designed t o be m o b i l e so t h a t they could be m o v e d t o invasion sites. This B i b e r f r o m K-Flotilla.261 being t o w e d on its standard transport trailer by a half-track prime mover was b u r n e d o u t by an air attack o n t h e Amiens-Bapaume road in early September 1944. (NARA)
e x a m p l e s a n d by the Italian s u c c e s s e s in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n . T h e s e s c a t t e r e d efforts were finally c o n s o l i d a t e d by Vice A d m i r a l H e l m u t h H e y e in April 1 9 4 4 as K o m m a n d o der K l e i n k a m p f v e r b a n d e ( K d K or K - V e r b a n d e : S m a l l C o m b a t Unit C o m m a n d ) . T h e first m i d g e t s u b m a r i n e a t t a c k s w e r e c o n d u c t e d a g a i n s t the Allied fleet off A n z i o in late A p r i l 1 9 4 4 . In c o n t r a s t t o the J a p a n e s e , Italian a n d British use of s m a l l s u b m a r i n e s , w h i c h w e r e offensively o r i e n t e d a n d u s e d for n a v a l r a i d i n g , the K - V e r b a n d e w a s e n v i s i o n e d a s a n o v e l , l o w - c o s t , a n t i - i n v a s i o n f o r c e for c o a s t a l d e f e n s e . T o c u t t h r o u g h the u s u a l military b u r e a u c r a c y , this force w a s i n d e p e n d e n t of r e g i o n a l n a v a l c o m m a n d s . T h e K - V e r b a n d e eventually t o o k c o n t r o l of a w i d e r a n g e o f u n c o n v e n t i o n a l w e a p o n s including m a n n e d t o r p e d o e s , m i d g e t s u b m a r i n e s , s h o r e - b a s e d g u i d e d t o r p e d o e s , r o b o t a t t a c k b o a t s , a n d n a v a l c o m m a n d o units. E a c h of the five K-Divisionen (K-Divisions) included several K-Flotilla, e a c h specializing in a p a r t i c u l a r type of craft. T h e initial o p e r a t i o n s w e r e c o n d u c t e d by m a n n e d t o r p e d o e s , w h i c h w e r e a n i m p r o v i s e d s u b m a r i n e c o n s i s t i n g o f a n u n a r m e d , m a n n e d c o n t r o l t o r p e d o o n t o p a n d a n a r m e d G 7 e electric t o r p e d o below. T h e first v e r s i o n , the N e g e r , w a s u s e d at A n z i o a n d w a s f o l l o w e d by the i m p r o v e d M a r d e r . A t o t a l o f s i x N e g e r / M a r d e r flotillas w e r e d e p l o y e d ; a b o u t 2 0 0 N e g e r a n d 3 0 0 M a r d e r w e r e built. T h e M a r d e r m a n n e d t o r p e d o e s w e r e a g a i n d e p l o y e d f r o m the F r e n c h c o a s t in J u l y - A u g u s t 1 9 4 4 , a n d were s u b s e q u e n t l y sent to B e l g i u m , the N e t h e r l a n d s , N o r w a y , a n d D e n m a r k . T h e M a r d e r s u b s w e r e later s u p p l e m e n t e d by m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t e d o n e - m a n
Q
105MM SK C/32, MARINE FLAK BATTERIE WEST (3./MFLA.810), STUTZPUNKT EDELWEISS, NOLLEDIJK, VLISSINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
The 1 0 5 m m SK C/32 w a s o n e o f t h e m o s t c o m m o n K r i e g s m a r i n e
Each b a t t e r y h a d f o u r o f t h e s e t u r r e t s , a n d t h i s p a r t i c u l a r
flak w e a p o n s , a n d h a d o r i g i n a l l y b e e n d e s i g n e d b y R h e i n m e t a l l -
b a t t e r y w a s also s u p p o r t e d b y a Fl 2 4 6 a m m u n i t i o n b u n k e r -
Borsig for small w a r s h i p s . T h e basic w a r s h i p v e r s i o n w a s
fire d i r e c t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n c a m e f r o m a n e a r b y W u r z b u r g
fitted
w i t h a s h r a p n e l s h i e l d , a n d this t y p e w a s f r e q u e n t l y u s e d o n
A radar c o d e n a m e d W i l m a . T h r e e b a t t e r i e s o f t h i s r e g i m e n t
l a n d . D u r i n g W o r l d War II, w i t h t h e i n c r e a s i n g use o f t h i s
w e r e l o c a t e d in t h e i m m e d i a t e F e s t u n g V l i s s i n g e n area, MFB
w e a p o n in t h e coastal flak role, an e n c l o s e d t u r r e t m o u n t
N o r d , Ost a n d W e s t , all w i t h t h e s a m e w e a p o n s . This b a t t e r y
was d e v e l o p e d , p r i m a r i l y f o r w e a t h e r p r o t e c t i o n , since t h e s e
w a s c o m m a n d e d b y Lt. K r a u t m a n a n d h a d a c o m p l e m e n t
batteries w e r e l o c a t e d a l o n g t h e N o r t h Sea. T h e r e w e r e t w o
o f 123 t r o o p s . O n e o f its t u r r e t s w a s d e s t r o y e d a n d o n e l i g h t l y
c o n f i g u r a t i o n s o f steel c u p o l a : t h e r o u n d e d t y p e seen h e r e , a n d
d a m a g e d d u r i n g an RAF raid o n O c t o b e r 9. T h e b a t t e r y s a w
a similar d e s i g n b u i l t o f w e l d e d flat sheet steel. T h e c u p o l a w a s
e x t e n s i v e c o m b a t use b o t h in an a n t i - a i r c r a f t m o d e a n d
m o u n t e d o n a v a r i e t y o f c o n c r e t e schwere Flakstand
a g a i n s t surface t a r g e t s d u r i n g t h e
g u n pits
w i t h cavities f o r a m m u n i t i o n s t o w a g e a r o u n d t h e i r p e r i p h e r y .
in O c t o b e r 1944.
fighting
along t h e Scheldt
submarines which could carry two torpedoes, n o t a b l y the Biber, a n d 1 0 B i b e r flotillas w e r e eventually o r g a n i z e d . A b o u t 3 3 0 Biber a n d 3 9 0 of the later M o l c h w e r e delivered. T h e K-Flotillas w e r e d e s i g n e d t o be m o b i l e , a u t o n o m o u s units that c o u l d be held in reserve a w a y f r o m the c o a s t , a n d then r a p i d l y m o v e d into p o s i t i o n by land to strike at Allied i n v a s i o n forces. T h e y w e r e carried o n a special w h e e l e d trailer that c o u l d be rapidly m o v e d by r o a d u s i n g a half-track prime-mover, a n d then transferred into the w a t e r at a suitable b o a t l a n d i n g or b e a c h .
German coastal defense t e c h n o l o g y at t h e e n d of t h e war was a curious mix of i n n o v a t i o n , desperation, and improvisation. There was no better example t h a n t h e initial d e p l o y m e n t s of advanced, w i r e - g u i d e d T10 Spinne t o r p e d o e s by t h e KVerbande at Strib in Denmark in early 1945. The t o r p e d o e s were housed in a concrete garage and loaded o n an improvised w o o d e n cart. To launch t h e t o r p e d o , t h e cart was l o w e r e d t o t h e shore by w i n c h , and t h e t o r p e d o released a n d launched off t h e cart once s u b m e r g e d . (NARA)
T h e K - V e r b a n d e a l s o i n c l u d e d the L i n s e e x p l o s i v e craft, w h i c h w e r e small w o o d e n m o t o r b o a t s o p e r a t e d in units c o n s i s t i n g of a c o m m a n d b o a t a l o n g w i t h t w o e x p l o s i v e b o a t s . T h e e x p l o s i v e b o a t s w e r e o p e r a t e d by a s i n g l e c r e w m a n w h o s t e e r e d t h e m c l o s e t o the t a r g e t , b a i l i n g o u t at a n o p p o r t u n e m o m e n t . C o n t r o l o f the L i n s e w a s then t a k e n over by radio-control f r o m the c o m m a n d b o a t . O n s t r i k i n g the e n e m y vessel, the e x p l o s i v e c h a r g e in the r e a r of the b o a t s a n k , a n d w a s d e t o n a t e d a few s e c o n d s after i m p a c t b y a d e l a y fuze t o m a x i m i z e d a m a g e . A t o t a l o f 1 , 2 0 1 L i n s e b o a t s w e r e m a n u f a c t u r e d . A L i n s e flotilla h a d a s t a n d a r d c o m p l e m e n t of 1 6 c o m m a n d b o a t s a n d 3 2 e x p l o s i v e b o a t s a n d 1 1 L i n s e flotillas w e r e o r g a n i z e d . Besides the s u b m a r i n e s a n d L i n s e b o a t s , the K - D i v i s i o n e n u s u a l l y i n c l u d e d a n a v a l c o m m a n d o p l a t o o n ( M E K : Marine Einsatz Kommando) with 3 0 - 6 0 troops for d e m o l i t i o n a n d r a i d i n g . T h e K - V e r b a n d e s a w c o n s i d e r a b l e c o m b a t in the N e t h e r l a n d s d u r i n g the c a m p a i g n a l o n g the S c h e l d t f r o m the a u t u m n o f 1 9 4 4 t h r o u g h the early w i n t e r o f 1 9 4 5 , b u t their m o s t e x t e n s i v e d e p l o y m e n t w a s in S c a n d i n a v i a with f o u r o f the five d i v i s i o n s s t a t i o n e d in N o r w a y .
A TOUR OF THE SITES Belgium D u r i n g the G r e a t War, the K r i e g s m a r i n e ' s c o a s t a l artillery force e x p e r i e n c e d its first l a r g e - s c a l e d e p l o y m e n t a w a y f r o m h o m e w a t e r s a l o n g the B e l g i a n c o a s t . S o m e 2 2 5 g u n s w e r e d e p l o y e d , shielding the c a n a l exits t h a t led to the U - b o a t h a r b o r in B r u g g e ( B r u g e s ) . T h e s u c c e s s of the U - b o a t s in c o m m e r c e r a i d i n g a r o u n d B r i t a i n p r e c i p i t a t e d the l e g e n d a r y R o y a l N a v y r a i d s of M a r c h 1 9 1 8 a g a i n s t Z e e b r u g g e a n d O s t e n d . After the war, little of the 1 9 1 8 defenses r e m a i n e d , h a v i n g b e e n s p i k e d b y the G e r m a n s p r i o r t o their w i t h d r a w a l a n d s c r a p p e d after the war. B e l g i u m h a d a m o d e s t a r r a y o f c o a s t a l defenses in the i n t e r w a r y e a r s i n c l u d i n g the e x c e l l e n t V i c k e r s 9 4 m m (3.7in.) p e d e s t a l g u n , a n d t h e s e w e r e initially o c c u p i e d b y G e r m a n t r o o p s in 1 9 4 0 b e f o r e m o r e elaborate defenses were organized. T h e G e r m a n c o a s t a l artillery f o r c e s d e p l o y e d in B e l g i u m b e t w e e n 1 9 4 0 a n d 1 9 4 4 w e r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y less t h a n t h o s e b e t w e e n 1 9 1 4 a n d 1 9 1 8 . Z e e b r u g g e l o s t its s t r a t e g i c i m p o r t a n c e , a s the l o n g e r - r a n g e d U - b o a t s w e r e b a s e d o u t o f h a r b o r s in F r a n c e r a t h e r t h a n in t h e m o r e c o n f i n e d w a t e r s o f B e l g i u m . T h e Atlantikwall in B e l g i u m w a s l a r g e l y a n e x t e n s i o n o f the C h a n n e l d e f e n s e s in the n e i g h b o r i n g P a s - d e - C a l a i s r e g i o n o f F r a n c e u n d e r A O K . 1 5 c o n t r o l . A s a r e s u l t , the d e f e n s e s e c t o r s here w e r e n u m b e r e d a n d 24
TOP
LEFT
Kettle positions w e r e typical of t h e early Belgian batteries like this c a m o u f l a g e d 1 5 5 m m GPFof3./HKAA.1260in Middelkerke. (A. Chazette) TOP
RIGHT
Some of t h e early naval batteries in Belgium had t h e advantage of shielded guns like this 1 0 5 m m SKL/40 of 7./MAA.204 Seezielbatterie Kursaal. (A. Chazette) MIDDLE
Bunkers were often sheathed in c a m o u f l a g e nets as seen in this stretch of defenses at W e n d u i n e near Blankenbergh in September 1944, part of a 1 .Marine-Funkmessabteilung coastal radar post. A W u r z b u r g Riese radar is evident t o t h e right. (National Archives Canada PA-174350)
LEFT
The Belgian coast had a relatively heavy c o n c e n t r a t i o n of railroad guns for its heavy artillery. This is t h e 2 8 0 m m Kurze Bruno station in Bredene w i t h E.696. (A. Chazette) 25
The brains of t h e naval g u n batteries were contained in t h e p l o t t i n g rooms located deep inside t h e fire control post. These rooms contained a variety of mechanical and electro-mechanical c o m p u t i n g devices, w h i c h converted data f r o m t h e range finders and bearing devices i n t o firing solutions for t h e battery's guns. (NARA)
T a b l e 2: W e h r m a c h t c o a s t a l artillery b a t t e r i e s in B e l g i u m , s u m m e r 1944
26
N a v y coastal batteries
Battery name
No. of g u n s
Caliber
1./MAA.204
Seezielbatterie Hamilton
4
75mm
2./MAA.204
Seezielbatterie Hundius
4
105mm
3./MAA.204
Seezielbatterie Salzwedel-Alt
4
75mm
4./MAA.204
Seezielbatterie Ramien
4
105mm
5./MAA.204
Seezielbatterie Schutte
4
105mm
6./MAA.204
Seezielbatterie Salzwedel-Neu
4
105mm
7./MAA.204
Seezielbatterie Kursaal
4
105mm
A r m y coastal batteries
Battery name
N o . of g u n s
Caliber
1./HKAA.1240
HKB Vosscheslag
6
155mm
4./HKAA.1240
HKB Groenendijk
6
155mm
5./HKAA.1240
HKB De Panne
6
155mm
6./HKAA.1240
HKB Westende
6
155mm
A r m y railroad batteries
Battery location
N o . of g u n s
Caliber
E.718
Knokke
3
170mm
E.717
Blankenberghe
3
170mm
E.655
Zeebrugge
4
150mm
E.687
Lisseweghe
2
203mm
E.690
Bredene
4
280mm
n a m e d in the A O K . 1 5 f a s h i o n a s K V A . A (Kiisten Verteidigung Abschnitt-A: C o a s t Defense Sector-A). Each K V A roughly corresponded to a divisional sector, a n d w a s further d i v i d e d into three r e g i m e n t a l s e c t o r s ( K V A . A 1 t o A 3 ) . T h e n a v y g u n s in B e l g i u m w e r e a n u n u s u a l l y m o t l e y selection i n c l u d i n g Tsarist 3in. field g u n s r e c h a m b e r e d by the Poles in 1 9 2 6 for s t a n d a r d F r e n c h 7 5 m m a m m u n i t i o n , a s well a s m o r e conventional n a v a l g u n s . T h e p r e d o m i n a n t a r m y c o a s t a l w e a p o n w a s the K 4 1 8 ( f ) , better k n o w n by its French d e s i g n a t i o n of 1 5 5 m m GPF. T h e m o s t p o w e r f u l w e a p o n s in B e l g i u m w e r e n o t the fixed b a t t e r i e s , b u t rather f o u r r a i l r o a d g u n b a t t e r i e s . T h e m o s t c o m m o n w e a p o n w a s the 1 7 0 m m K ( E ) , w h i c h w a s a g u n t a k e n f r o m the W o r l d W a r I Deutschland class a n d r e m o u n t e d o n rail c a r r i a g e s , a n d there w a s a l s o a battery with the powerful 2 8 0 m m K u r z e B r u n o . A s in the n e i g h b o r i n g A O K . 1 5 sectors in F r a n c e , the Belgian c o a s t h a d a denser c o n c e n t r a t i o n of infantry p o s i t i o n s than in the n e i g h b o r i n g N e t h e r l a n d s b e c a u s e o f its role in defending a g a i n s t a n expected Allied a m p h i b i o u s i n v a s i o n . In the s u m m e r o f 1 9 4 4 it w a s o c c u p i e d by the 712.1nfanterie D i v i s i o n , 8 9 . A r m e e K o r p s . Since the Belgian c o a s t w a s only 3 6 miles ( 5 8 k m ) l o n g , the Atlantikwall c o n s t r u c t i o n there c o n s u m e d only 5 1 0 , 4 2 0 cubic meters of concrete - less t h a n five percent o f the total.
ABOVE
LEFT
Coastal s t r o n g p o i n t s f r e q u e n t l y had f o r w a r d artillery observation bunkers in t h e dunes like this Bauform 143, part of St.P. Lohengrin in Zoutelande between Westkapelle and Vlissingen. The a r m o r e d cupola can be seen o n t h e roof on t h e bunker. Note also t h a t t h e rear entrance d o o r is well protected by a m a c h i n e - g u n position in enfilade. This particular bunker has been expertly restored by the Bunkerbehoud foundation and has a full interior; t h e rails o n t h e roof are a safety feature and not part of t h e original design. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h ) ABOVE
RIGHT
Life in a German coastal
The Netherlands C o a s t a l d e f e n s e s in the N e t h e r l a n d s c o n s t i t u t e d a b o u t a t e n t h o f t o t a l Atlantikwall f o r t i f i c a t i o n activity in 1 9 4 2 - 4 4 . T h e N e t h e r l a n d s w a s n e v e r
bunker was cramped. This is t h e preserved interior of a Bauform 502 of St.P. Lohengrin in Vlissingen and this small r o o m w o u l d have a c c o m m o d a t e d ten soldiers. (Author's photograph)
LEFT
Seezielbatterie Wijk-am-Zee, 2.1 M A A . 2 0 1 , was e q u i p p e d w i t h four Bauform 671 g u n casemates as seen t o t h e right w h i c h were a r m e d w i t h 1 5 0 m m TbKC/36 naval guns d u r i n g t h e war. Its M473a fire c o n t r o l post can be seen t o t h e left; it was in use as a seaside restaurant w h e n visited by t h e a u t h o r in 2008. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
27
A "battleship of t h e dunes," t h e Seezielbatterie SchveningenNord of 8./MAA.201 a r m e d w i t h 1 5 0 m m SKC/28 naval guns. In this view, t h e multi-tier S414 fire c o n t r o l post can be seen in t h e f o r e g r o u n d as well as three of t h e Bauform 671 g u n casemates b e y o n d . (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
e s p e c i a l l y h i g h o n t h e list o f p r o b a b l e A l l i e d i n v a s i o n p o i n t s , s i n c e the l o w - l y i n g l a n d b e h i n d the c o a s t a l d i k e s c o u l d be r e a d i l y f l o o d e d a n d m a d e i m p a s s i b l e . T h e D u t c h p o r t s a t R o t t e r d a m a n d A m s t e r d a m a n d their a c c e s s t o k e y w a t e r w a y s l e a d i n g i n t o the G e r m a n i n d u s t r i a l h e a r t l a n d e n s u r e d a s i g n i f i c a n t f o r t i f i c a t i o n effort o n the D u t c h c o a s t . A s e c o n d a r y r e a s o n for h e a v y d e f e n s e o f t h e D u t c h p o r t s w a s their r o l e in b a s i n g S - b o a t t o r p e d o b o a t s , w h i c h w e r e v e r y a c t i v e in the n a v a l c a m p a i g n s in the N o r t h S e a . A n u m b e r o f s u b s t a n t i a l S - b o a t shelters w e r e built in D u t c h h a r b o r s t o defend this f o r c e a g a i n s t R A F b o m b e r r a i d s . T h e m a j o r i t y o f the D u t c h c o a s t a l defenses were s u b o r d i n a t e to the W B N (Wehrmachtsbefehl in den Niederlanden: A r m e d F o r c e s C o m m a n d in the N e t h e r l a n d s ) . T h e e x c e p t i o n w a s the Scheldt estuary region a r o u n d Breskens a n d Vlissingen; it w a s s u b o r d i n a t e t o the neighboring A O K . 1 5 which controlled G e r m a n a r m y units in the P a s - d e - C a l a i s a n d Belgian c o a s t . T h e r e were four p r i m a r y defense zones in the N e t h e r l a n d s , t w o designated at the highest level a s Festung (fortress) a n d the other t w o as Verteidigungsbereich (defense z o n e ) . T h e single m o s t heavily fortified a r e a w a s the H o e k v a n H o l l a n d ( H o o k of H o l l a n d ) due to its strategic i m p o r t a n c e . Aside from including the cities of T h e H a g u e a n d R o t t e r d a m , this estuary a n d p o r t area offered access to the t w o m o s t i m p o r t a n t rivers in this a r e a of northern E u r o p e , the M a a s (Meuse) a n d the R h i n e . N e a r l y a q u a r t e r of the m a j o r fortifications built in the N e t h e r l a n d s d u r i n g the w a r w e r e located in this sector. T h e defense centered a r o u n d the N e w Waterway, the late 19th-century c a n a l connecting R o t t e r d a m to the N o r t h Sea. T h e center of the defenses w a s its Kernwerk o n the s o u t h b a n k of the canal near the site of t o d a y ' s E u r o p o r t . T h e s e c o n d Festung in the N e t h e r l a n d s w a s I J m u i d e n . W h i l e this s m a l l fishing p o r t w o u l d h a r d l y s e e m t o m e r i t s u c h a d e s i g n a t i o n , the fortified a r e a s e r v e d t o c o v e r the e n t r a n c e o f the n e i g h b o r i n g N o r t h S e a C a n a l w h i c h led t o A m s t e r d a m a n d the I J s s e l m e e r ( Z u i d e r Z e e ) . T h e Kernwerk w a s b a s e d o n F o r t e i l a n d , a D u t c h fortified i s l a n d a t the e n t r a n c e of the c a n a l . T h i s Festung a l s o i n c l u d e d a h e a v y c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f n a v a l flak b a t t e r i e s for air d e f e n s e , a l o n g w i t h fortified r a d a r s t a t i o n s .
28
T h e n o r t h e r n m o s t o f the m a j o r D u t c h fortified z o n e s w a s V B D e n Helder. T h i s site h a d s t r a t e g i c s i g n i f i c a n c e a s a m a j o r p o r t a t t h e t i p o f N o r t h H o l l a n d , controlling naval access into the IJsselmeer. T h e fourth m a j o r defense sector w a s V B Vlissingen (Flushing), which controlled access to the S c h e l d t E s t u a r y a n d the p o r t o f A n t w e r p . T h i s d e f e n s e s e c t o r i n c l u d e d a s u b s t a n t i a l a r s e n a l o f n a v a l b a t t e r i e s f a c i n g the N o r t h S e a , a s w e l l a s additional batteries to control the Scheldt. O n the s o u t h e r n b a n k of the Scheldt Estuary w a s S t r o n g p o i n t G r o u p Breskens, a substantial defensive p o s i t i o n in its o w n r i g h t w i t h a s i g n i f i c a n t Landfront. Although these defensive p o s i t i o n s w e r e o r i g i n a l l y u n d e r W B N c o n t r o l , in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 2 , they w e r e t r a n s f e r r e d t o the n e i g h b o r i n g A O K . 1 5 c o m m a n d a s p a r t o f the Channel C o a s t defense effort. With the a d v a n c e of C a n a d i a n a n d British f o r c e s in A u g u s t 1 9 4 4 , the A O K . 1 5 r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w a s shifted further u p the c o a s t , t a k i n g c o n t r o l o f s t r o n g p o i n t s u p t o O o s t v o o r n e . W i t h the l i b e r a t i o n of A n t w e r p in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 4 , the Scheldt E s t u a r y s u d d e n l y t o o k o n g r e a t e r i m p o r t a n c e , since w i t h o u t control of the Scheldt the p o r t w a s virtually useless d u e t o the t h r e a t o f the s u b s t a n t i a l G e r m a n c o a s t a l d e f e n s e s . D u e t o this c h a n g e in i m p o r t a n c e , this s e c t o r w a s r e d e s i g n a t e d a s Festung and p l a y e d a significant role in the b r u t a l O c t o b e r - N o v e m b e r 1 9 4 4 e n g a g e m e n t s w h i c h will be c o v e r e d in m o r e detail later. B e s i d e s the u s u a l c o a s t a l artillery b a t t e r i e s , the N e t h e r l a n d s h a d a n unusually h e a v y d e p l o y m e n t of K r i e g s m a r i n e flak batteries. T h e s e w e r e m o s t often d u a l - p u r p o s e 1 0 5 m m n a v a l g u n s t h a t h a d a s e c o n d a r y r o l e o f c o a s t defense. T h e w i d e s p r e a d d e p l o y m e n t w a s in p a r t d u e t o the n e e d t o d e f e n d D u t c h h a r b o r s f r o m R A F a t t a c k s , but the N e t h e r l a n d s w a s in the p a t h of Allied h e a v y b o m b e r s h e a d i n g t o w a r d s G e r m a n y . S o the b a t t e r i e s w e r e u s e d b o t h in h a r b o r defense a n d a g a i n s t the b o m b e r s t r e a m s . In 1 9 4 3 a l o n e , the n a v a l flak batteries fired 1 3 , 2 5 3 r o u n d s o f 1 0 5 m m a n d 2 6 , 9 1 4 r o u n d s o f 2 0 m m a m m u n i t i o n . T h e flak batteries p l a y e d a n i m p o r t a n t role in defending D u t c h h a r b o r s as they w e r e a v a i l a b l e in sufficient q u a n t i t y t o m a k e air a t t a c k s costly. F o r e x a m p l e , o n J a n u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5 a r a i d by 3 0 B e a u f i g h t e r s of 1 6 G r o u p into the D e n H e l d e r a n c h o r a g e led t o the loss o f six aircraft.
Festung harbors in t h e Netherlands were based a r o u n d a heavily fortified Kernwerk at t h e core of t h e position. In t h e case of IJmuiden o n t h e approaches t o A m s t e r d a m , t h e WN 73 Kernwerk was based o n t h e previous Dutch defenses o n Forteiland, a small island bisecting t h e channel. The brick structure in center is t h e original Dutch Kustfort built in 1880-87 and a r m e d w i t h Krupp 2 4 0 m m guns. On either side, t w o of three Kriegsmarine M l 70 g u n casemates are visible; t h e y were a r m e d w i t h 1 5 0 m m SKL/40(h) naval guns. One of a pair of Bauform 631 anti-tank g u n casemates is visible in t h e lower right, largely s u b m e r g e d f r o m erosion. This small island, some 6 8 0 m l o n g and 3 0 0 m w i d e , had 26 major bunkers built o n it, m a n y of w h i c h still survive. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
29
Adjacent t o t h e IJmuiden Kernwerk was WN.81, w h i c h included Seezielbatterie Heerenduin of 4./MAA.201, armed w i t h four 1 7 0 m m SKL/40 naval guns in M272 casemates. The centerpiece was this M178 naval fire control post. (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
The army also d e p l o y e d some of its divisional field guns in casemates like this battery on t h e outskirts of Bergen-opZ o o m w i t h four Bauform 669 casemates for t h e batteries of Artillerie Regiment 1719 of t h e 719.lnfanterie Division. The battery's casemates are unusual in t h a t several had an additional Tobruk position built o n t o p . (Author's p h o t o g r a p h )
WN 73 KERNWERK IJMUIDEN, NORTH SEA CANAL, THE NETHERLANDS The Festung ports on the North Sea w e r e typically based a r o u n d
had four 1 7 0 m m SKL/40 naval guns in M 2 7 2 casemates, while
a core position {Kernwerk)
Seezielbatterie Wijk-am-See on t h e north had a battery of
which covered t h e main port
entrance - in this case, t h e North Sea Canal entrance into
1 5 0 m m Tsts.K C/36 guns in Bauform 671 casemates. This Festung
Amsterdam. The IJmuiden Kernwerk
was also supported by a heavy concentration of naval flak
was built on Forteiland, a
Dutch fortified island w i t h the Kustfort
built in 1 8 8 0 - 8 7 and
batteries for air defense along w i t h fortified radar stations.
armed with German 2 4 0 m m guns; it was m o d e r n i z e d in t h e
1.
Bauform 6 3 6 SK fire control post
1920s with several more m o d e r n small bunkers. The island was
2-4.
M l 70 g u n casemates for 1 5 0 m m SKL/40 g u n w i t h
substantially rebuilt in t h e summer of 1943 while m a n n e d by 3 . / M A A . 2 0 1 . The Dutch Kustfort
was reinforced by adding three
adjacent Bauform 6 5 6 1 5 - m a n personnel bunker 5.
Bauform 671 SK g u n casemate for British 3.7-inch g u n
large M 1 7 0 casemates for World War I 1 5 0 m m naval guns w i t h
6-7.
Bauform 611 g u n casemate for Soviet 1 2 2 m m A-19 g u n
associated personnel bunkers, plus a fire control post. These
8-13.
Bauform 631 antitank g u n bunker
bunkers were d e f e n d e d by a host of smaller bunkers containing
1 4 - 1 5 . Bauform 633 Mortar pit
antitank guns and machine guns, and t w o more artillery
1 6 - 1 9 . Bauform 6 4 4 m a c h i n e - g u n casemate
batteries were a d d e d , a r m e d w i t h w a r - b o o t y Soviet 1 2 2 m m A-
20.
19 field guns. The seaward beach was covered w i t h dragons'
21.
Bauform 635 D o u b l e g r o u p (20-man) personnel bunker
teeth to prevent the landing of tanks or vehicles.
22.
W a t e r reservoir
This Kernwerk
was part of an interlocking defense system w i t h
Local design d e c o n t a m i n a t i o n building
2 3 - 2 4 . D e p t h charge launcher
extensive artillery on both shoulders of the canal. Seezielbatterie
25.
Storage bunker
Heerenduin, located on the IJmuiden coast south of t h e canal,
26.
Bauform 6 6 8 6 - m a n bunker used as canteen
T a b l e 3: W e h r m a c h t c o a s t a l a r t i l l e r y b a t t e r i e s i n t h e N e t h e r l a n d s , s u m m e r 1 9 4 4
Notes 1
Marko-StandMarineartilleriekommandostand/stabsbatterie: Naval artillery command post/ staff battery
2
HKB-
3
Flagruko= Flakgruppenkommandostand/ stabsbatterie: Flak group command post/staff battery
32
Heereskiistenbatterie
Naval battery
Battery name
Casemate
No. of g u n s
Caliber
2./MAA.201
Seezielbatterie Wijk-am-Zee
671
4
150mm
3./MAA.201
Kernwerk IJmuiden
M l 70,611
3+2
150mm
4./MAA.201
Seezielbatterie Heerenduin (Prien)
M272
4
170mm
5./MAA.201
Seezielbatterie Langerak
M153c
4
150mm
6./MAA.201
Seezielbatterie Zuidzand
M671
4
94mm
7./MAA.201
Seezielbatterie Noordwijk
671
4
155mm
8./MAA.201
Seezielbatterie Schveningen-Nord
671
4
150mm
9./MAA.201
Seezielbatterie Westduin
671
4
105mm
1./MAA.202
Seezielbatterie Dishoek
4
150mm
4./MAA.202
Seezielbatterie Oostkapelle
671
3
94mm
5./MAA.202
Seezielbatterie Domburg
612
4
220mm
6./MAA.202
Seezielbatterie Westkapelle
671
4
94mm
7./MAA.202
Seezielbatterie Zoutelande
671SK
6
155mm
8./MAA.202
Seezielbatterie Fidelio
612
4
220mm
9./MAA.202
Kernwerk Vlissingen
M170
3
150mm
2./MAA.203
Seezielbatterie Breskens
671
4
76.2mm
3./MAA.203
Seezielbatterie Nieuwe Sluis
612
4
120mm
4./MAA.203
Seezielbatterie Cadzand
671
4
150mm
1./MAA.205
Marko-Stand
n/a
n/a
2./MAA.205
Seezielbatterie Vineta
671
4
150mm
3./MAA.205
Seezielbatterie Rozenburg
S412
3
280mm
4./MAA.205
Schwere Seezielbatterie Brandenburg
SK Bettung
3
240mm
5./MAA.205
Kernwerk Hoek van Holland
M170/622
4+2
120mm
6./MAA.205
Seezielbatterie Rockanje
671
4
94mm
7./MAA.205
Seezielbatterie Renesse Neu
671
4+3
75mm
8./MAA.205
Seezielbatterie Westerschouwen
671
6
94mm
1./MAA.607
Marko-Stand
n/a
2./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Eierland
M195
4
105mm
3./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Hors
671
4
120mm
4./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Kaaphoofd
612
4
105mm
5./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Duinrand
no
4
194mm
6./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Falga
671
4
120mm
7./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Zanddijk
M219
4
120mm
8./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Callantsoog
671
4
76.2mm
9./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Camperduin
612/671
4
105mm
10./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Bergen
671
4
120mm
11./MAA.607
Seezielbatterie Egmond am See
671
4
105mm
1
Army battery
Battery name
Casemate
No. of g u n s
Caliber
6
105mm
A r m y batteries 2
1./HKAA.1230
HKB De Koog
2./HKAA.1230
HKB Petten
612
4
105mm
3./HKAA.1230
HKB Castricum
671
4
105mm
4./HKAA.1230
HKBHillegom
669/671
6
105mm
5./HKAA.1230
HKB Katwijk
688
6
152mm
6./HKAA.1230
HKB Monster
Bettung
6
152mm
1./HKAA.1231
HKB Helvoet
4+2
105mm
2./HKAA.1231
HKB Goedereede
671
4
105mm
3./HKAA.1231
HKB Ouddorp
669/671
6
152mm
4./HKAA.1231
HKB Haamstede
671
4
105mm
5./HKAA.1231
HKB Hellevoet
671
4
105mm
Casemate
N o . of g u n s
Caliber
Navai Flak battery
Battery name
Naval coastal Flak batteries
2./MFA.246
Schw.Flak-Battr. Nansum
no
4
105mm
3./MFA.246
Schw.Flak-Battr. Delfzil
no
4
105mm
4./MFA.246
Schw.Flak-Battr. Termunten
no
4
105mm
FL 243a
4
105mm
5./MFA.246
Marine-Flak-Battr. Terschelling-West
1./MFA.808
Flagruko Den Helder
n/a
n/a
n/a
2./MFA.808
Marine-Flak-Battr. Dirksz-Admiral
FL243/L 401
4
105mm
3./MFA.808
Marine-Flak-Battr. Vangdam
no
4
105mm
5./MFA.808
Marine-Flak-Battr. Erfprinz
FL243/L401
4
105mm
1./MFA.810
Flagruko Heldburg
n/a
n/a
n/a
3./MFA.810
Marine-Flak-Battr. West
no
4
105mm
1./MFA.813
Flagruko Hoek van Holland
n/a
n/a
n/a
2./MFA.813
Marine-Flak-Battr. Nordmole
no
4
105mm
3./MFA.813
Marine-Flak-Battr. Waterweg
FL243
4
105mm
4./MFA.813
Marine-Flak-Battr. Briel
FL243
4
105mm
5./MFA.813
Marine-Flak-Battr. Zande
no
4
105mm
2./MFA.815
Marine-Flak-Battr. Vlieland-Ost
FL243a
4
105mm
3./MFA.815
Marine-Flak-Battr. Vlieland-West
FL243a
4
105mm
4./MFA.815
Marine-Flak-Battr. Den Hoorn
no
4
105mm
5./MFA.815
Marine-Flak-Battr. Kreuzberg
no
4
105mm
1./MFA.816
Flagruko
n/a
n/a
n/a
2./MFA.816
Marine-Flak-Battr. Beverwijk
no
4
105mm
3./MFA.816
Marine-Flak-Battr. Sud-Ost
no
4
105mm
4./MFA.816
Marine-Flak-Battr.Olmen
FL243
6
105mm
5./MFA.816
Marine-Flak-Battr. Duinenberg
no
4
105mm
3
German fortification efforts in Norway in 1940-41 focused o n t h e construction of massive U-boat bunkers in T r o n d h e i m . These facilities became m o r e i m p o r t a n t in t h e a u t u m n of 1944 after t h e loss of U-boat bases in France, leading t o additional coastal defense efforts in t h e area. This is a v i e w of t h e submarine bunkers i m m e d i a t e l y at t h e e n d of t h e war. (NARA)
Norway O f the N o r t h S e a c o a s t l i n e s d e s c r i b e d in this b o o k , N o r w a y w a s the first t o see e x t e n s i v e c o a s t a l defense efforts s t a r t i n g in 1 9 4 0 , a n d h a d p r i o r i t y o v e r the F r e n c h - B e l g i a n c o a s t well into 1 9 4 3 . T h e early e m p h a s i s o n N o r w a y w a s d u e t o a v a r i e t y o f f a c t o r s i n c l u d i n g the s t r a t e g i c i m p o r t a n c e o f the o r e s u p p l i e s f r o m n o r t h e r n N o r w e g i a n a n d n e i g h b o r i n g S w e d i s h m i n e s a n d the c o r r e s p o n d i n g n e e d t o p r o t e c t the c o a s t a l traffic, a s well a s the i m p e r a t i v e to interdict the B r i t i s h A r c t i c c o n v o y s s u p p l y i n g the R e d A r m y t h r o u g h M u r m a n s k . N o r w a y a l s o p r o v i d e d a m e a n s t o c o n t r o l the n o r t h e r n s h o r e o f the S k a g e r r a k a n d therefore a c c e s s t o w a r d s the B a l t i c a n d the n o r t h w e s t e r n G e r m a n c o a s t . A t the s a m e t i m e , the N o r w e g i a n c o a s t w a s all t o o a c c e s s i b l e t o British n a v a l c e n t e r s s u c h a s S c a p a F l o w , a n d v u l n e r a b l e t o r a i d i n g o p e r a t i o n s by the R o y a l N a v y . N o r w a y p r e s e n t e d s o m e u n i q u e p r o b l e m s a n d s o m e u n i q u e p o t e n t i a l for c o a s t a l d e f e n s e .
PANZERTURM II (SBEHELFSAUSFUHRUNG), FESTUNG LIST A, NORWAY W e h r m a c h t d e f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n s in N o r w a y m a d e e x t e n s i v e
b y an o c t a g o n a l steel p l a t e b o l t e d t o t h e roof. T h e s e b u n k e r s
use o f Panzerstellungen,
w e r e b u i l t t o t h e r e d u c e d B1 s t a n d a r d s o f c o n c r e t e t h i c k n e s s
w h i c h consisted of obsolete tank
turrets m o u n t e d o n bunkers derived f r o m t h e c o m m o n
a n d so w e r e i n t e n d e d t o b e f u l l y b u r i e d e x c e p t f o r w h a t e v e r
T o b r u k / R i n g s t a n d d e s i g n s . In t h i s case, t h e t u r r e t s w e r e
o p e n i n g w a s n e e d e d f o r access t o t h e i n t e r i o r , in t h i s case
leftovers f r o m t h e PzKpfw II (F) F l a m i n g o f l a m e t h r o w e r t a n k s ,
s o m e c r u d e steps a l o n g t h e side. T h e i n t e r i o r w a s a s i m p l e p i t
t e r m e d e x p e d i e n t v e r s i o n {Behelfsausfuhrung)
as t h e y w e r e
u n d e r t h e g u n a n d a c o m p a r t m e n t in t h e b a c k f o r a m m u n i t i o n
c h e a p l y a d a p t e d f o r t h e role by b l a n k i n g o f f t h e m o r e e l a b o r a t e
s t o w a g e ; t h e u n i t o f fire, t h e s t a n d a r d a m m u n i t i o n a l l o t m e n t ,
p i v o t i n g visors used o n t h e t a n k . A c o a m i n g w a s a d d e d o n t h e
w a s 12,000 r o u n d s . Since t h e y w e r e c o n s i d e r e d r e i n f o r c e d f i e l d
f r o n t t u r r e t r o o f t o i m p r o v e v e n t i l a t i o n . A t o t a l o f 63 o f t h i s
positions, no armored door was provided, a l t h o u g h some units
version w e r e c o n v e r t e d b y Schichau in E l b i n g , a l o n g w i t h 25 o f
w o u l d a d d an improvised w o o d e n d o o r for w e a t h e r p r o t e c t i o n .
t h e n o r m a l series u s i n g u n m o d i f i e d F l a m i n g o t u r r e t s ; 31 o f t h e
T h e t u r r e t s w e r e o r i g i n a l l y d e l i v e r e d in d a r k g r e y , b u t later in
e x p e d i e n t v e r s i o n seen here w e r e sent t o N o r w a y a n d 4 o f t h e
" l i g h t t r o p i c a l c o l o r " {heller Tropenanstich,
n o r m a l series t o D e n m a r k ; t h e rest w e n t t o t h e Eastern F r o n t .
w a s also w i d e l y u s e d o n m a n y o t h e r Atlantikwall
The T o b r u k is a B a u f o r m 232a d a t i n g f r o m M a r c h 1943 a n d is fairly t y p i c a l o f Panzerstellungen,
w i t h a circular o p e n i n g c a p p e d
RAL 7028), w h i c h components.
Sometimes, c a m o u f l a g e colors w e r e applied over this, b u t most p h o t o s s h o w a single color.
The battlecruiser
Gneisenau's
C t u r r e t was e m p l a c e d near T r o n d h e i m in MKB 1/507 near Orlandet in 1943; this image shows t h e battery shortly after its c o m p l e t i o n b u t before c a m o u f l a g e nets were attached. This battery remained in Norwegian service after t h e war and is currently preserved as a m u s e u m . (NARA)
This is a typical example of t h e early Norwegian coastal artillery d e p l o y m e n t s , in this case a French Schneider 1 0 5 m m mle. 1913. The kettle position includes a concrete slab w i t h pintle, o n w h i c h was m o u n t e d a traversable p l a t f o r m . The g u n was lashed t o this for rapid traverse. (NARA)
T h e e n o r m o u s length of coastline w a s a f o r m i d a b l e challenge to establishing a n y s o r t o f c o m p r e h e n s i v e d e f e n s e line. T h e N o r w e g i a n c o a s t e x t e n d e d f r o m the S k a g e r r a k t o the N o r t h C a p e o n the A r c t i c O c e a n , a d i s t a n c e of 2 , 5 3 2 k m ( 1 , 5 7 0 miles) t h o u g h the a c t u a l coastline w a s a d a u n t i n g 2 5 , 1 4 8 k m if m e a s u r e d a l o n g the n u m e r o u s fjords. M u c h of the c o a s t w a s m o u n t a i n o u s a n d u n d e v e l o p e d w h i c h p r e s e n t e d e n o r m o u s difficulty in m o v i n g a n y large c o n s t r u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t i n t o p l a c e for fortification p u r p o s e s . O n the other h a n d , the r o c k y c o a s t l i n e a l s o p e r m i t t e d the c o n s t r u c t i o n of defensive w o r k s by d i g g i n g into the r o c k b e d t o m i n i m i z e the n e e d for e x t e n s i v e a m o u n t s of steel-reinforced c o n c r e t e . T h e e n o r m o u s l e n g t h o f the N o r w e g i a n c o a s t f o r c e d the W e h r m a c h t t o d i v i d e the c o u n t r y i n t o three d e f e n s e s e c t o r s e a c h w i t h a K r i e g s m a r i n e c o m m a n d a n d c o r r e s p o n d i n g H e e r c o m m a n d . T h e navy's sectors were A d m i r a l der W e s t k i i s t e h e a d q u a r t e r e d in B e r g e n , A d m i r a l der N o r d k i i s t e b a s e d in 36
T a b l e 4: E i n s a t z g r u p p e W i k i n g p e r m a n e n t b u n k e r s in N o r w a y t h r o u g h J u l y 1944 Bunker
Storage
HQ
Gun
Platform
Observation
Medical
Torpedo
14
1
9
0
1
1
1
Alta
9
4
5
0
2
0
0
Moen
5
1
0
0
1
0
0
Narvik
14
1
2
7
2
0
0
Bodo/Mosjoen
14
0
29
0
3
1
o
Trondheim
26
9
12
1
9
6
2
Andalsnes
36
1
16
0
2
2
2
Bergen
42
3
18
1
6
4
1
Kristiansand
50
5
24
4
14
10
0
3
0
3
0
3
0
0
25
118
13
43
24
6
(30)
(220)
(20)
(71)
(44)
(9)
Kirkenes
Tonsberg Total
213 (296)
1
Notes 1
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of bunkers intended for
completion
T r o n d h e i m a n d A d m i r a l der P o l a r k u s t e in T r o m s o . In t u r n , these sectors w e r e divided into regional sea c o m m a n d s (SeekommandantlSeeko). T h e H e e r units were s u b o r d i n a t e to A r m e e o b e r k o m m a n d o N o r w e g e n ( N o r w a y A r m y H i g h C o m m a n d ) t h o u g h after J a n u a r y 1 9 4 2 , the K i r k e n e s sector fell u n d e r A O K L a p p l a n d (later A O K . 2 0 G e b i r g s ) w h i c h w a s r e s p o n s i b l e for the Finnish front. A t p e a k s t r e n g t h the a r m y h a d five c o r p s in N o r w a y , i n c l u d i n g o n e in the Kirkenes sector n o t under A O K N o r w e g e n c o m m a n d , b u t by 1 9 4 5 this h a d been whittled d o w n by the transfer o f o n e c o r p s t o other fronts. G e r m a n fortification w o r k in N o r w a y initially b e g a n in m i d - 1 9 4 1 w i t h the c o n s t r u c t i o n of r e i n f o r c e d s u b m a r i n e b u n k e r s in T r o n d h e i m . O r g a n i z a t i o n T o d t c r e a t e d the E i n s a t z g r u p p e W i k i n g t o specialize in c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k in S c a n d i n a v i a . F o r t i f i c a t i o n efforts in the m o r e r e m o t e n o r t h e r n a r e a s w e r e c o n s i d e r a b l y h a m p e r e d by the l a c k o f r o a d a n d rail lines, a n d p r o m p t e d a n ambitious G e r m a n p r o g r a m to construct a supporting transportation network to link G e r m a n o c c u p a t i o n f o r c e s . A further incentive t o c r e a t e a r o a d a n d rail n e t w o r k in the n o r t h w a s Hitler's s c h e m e t o c r e a t e a m a j o r G e r m a n p o r t in the T r o n d h e i m a r e a w i t h facilities for a q u a r t e r - m i l l i o n G e r m a n m i l i t a r y a n d civilian p e r s o n n e l . T h e e n o r m o u s d e m a n d s of these c o n s t r u c t i o n s c h e m e s
BELOW
LEFT
Besides French artillery, t h e Norwegian batteries also m a d e extensive use of W o r l d War I artillery, such as this Skoda 2 1 0 m m K39/40, originally ordered by Turkey f r o m Czechoslovakia b u t kept in p r o d u c t i o n after 1939. (NARA)
BELOW
RIGHT
The difficulty of erecting concrete casemates in t h e r e m o t e regions of Norway m e a n t t h a t most batteries relied o n c a m o u f l a g e umbrellas like this 2 4 0 m m SKL/40 of MKB 4/517 Batterie Mestersand near S y l t i n 1943. (NARA)
The Atlantikwall
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
i n S c a n d i n a v i a , 1944-45
Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Sydvaranger Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Nordvaranger Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Varde-Kiberg Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Eismeer Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Tanafjord Art.Gr. Kistrand Art.Gr. Nordkapp Art.Gr. Alta Art.Gr. Oksfjord Art.Gr. Nordreisa Art.Gr. Varto Art.Gr. Ullsfjord Art.Gr. Tromso Art.Gr. Balsfjord Art.Gr. Senja Art.Gr. Gavlfjord Art.Gr. Hadsel Art.Gr. Flakstad Art.Gr. Moskenes Art.Gr. Vestvagoy Art.Gr. Svolvaer Art.Gr. Vagsfjord Art.Gr. Harstad Art.Gr. Andfjord Art.Gr. Salangen Art.Gr. Narvik Art.Gr. Korsnes Art.Gr. Vestfjord Art.Gr. Folda Art.Gr. Bode
31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60.
Art.Gr. Sandessjoen Art.Gr. Bronnoysund Art.Gr. Vikna Art.Gr. Namsos Art.Gr. Orlandet Art.Gr. Trondheim-Ost Art.Gr. Trondheim-Vest Art.Gr. Kristiansund Art.Gr. More Art.Gr. Romsdal Art.Gr. Alesund Art.Gr. Standlandet Art.Gr. Nordfjord Art.Gr. Sognefjord Art.Gr. Hjeltefjord Art.Gr. Bergen Art.Gr. Korsfjord Art.Gr. Bomlafjord Art.Gr. Haugesund Art.Gr. Karmoy-Syd Art.Gr. Stavanger-havn Art.Gr. Stavanger-Syd Art.Gr. Egersund Art.Gr. Vanse Art.Gr. Mandal-Sogne Art.Gr. Kristiansund Art.Gr. Lillesand Art.Gr. Arendal Art.Gr. Larvik Art.Gr. Makeroy
Seeko Hammerfest Seeko Tromso
rSeeko^
Harstad
k-bJ
*
.*\
2 4
1 5 \
Tromso
7
l
r ^ T I iL
\
I )
Seeko Narvik
Art.Gr. Artilleriegruppe -Artillery Group
c o n s u m e d m o s t o f the early s u p p l i e s of r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e a n d s l o w e d any c o a s t a l defense fortification. L o c a l units were obliged to m a k e d o with i m p r o v i s a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g the u s e o f r o c k t o c r e a t e e x p e d i e n t defenses a n d to u s e c a v e s a n d t u n n e l s for a m m u n i t i o n a n d p e r s o n n e l shelters. In c o m p a r i s o n w i t h the Atlantikwall in F r a n c e , N o r w a y w a s very w e a k l y p r o v i d e d w i t h r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e shelters. S o w h i l e there w e r e over 2 , 0 0 0 g u n c a s e m a t e s in F r a n c e , there w e r e o n l y a b o u t a h u n d r e d in N o r w a y . 38
LEFT
A Kriegsmarine coastal battery in t h e Arctic Finnmark region in 1943 a r m e d w i t h a 1 5 0 m m UbtsuTbts L/45 U - b o a t / t o r p e d o boat g u n . In t h e b a c k g r o u n d is a c a m o u f l a g e d fire c o n t r o l post. (NARA)
BELOW
LEFT
MKB 6/511 was d e p l o y e d at Skrolsvik w i t h four of these t u r r e t e d 1 5 0 m m SKC/28 naval guns in MPL C/35 turrets and became operational in A u g u s t 1943. This is a fairly typical example of t h e use of d i s m o u n t e d warship guns for coastal defense; these guns had served as secondary armament on the
Scharnhorst
a n d Gneisenau cruisers. (NARA)
T a b l e 5: A r t i l l e r y d e p l o y m e n t in N o r w a y b y caliber Caliber
T h e initial steps t o defend the N o r w e g i a n c o a s t b e g a n late in 1 9 4 0 w i t h K r i e g s m a r i n e p l a n s t o a b s o r b 13 e x i s t i n g N o r w e g i a n c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s , a d d a d d i t i o n a l batteries f r o m c a p t u r e d N o r w e g i a n a r m y artillery, a n d r e i n f o r c e these batteries with a d d i t i o n a l artillery t o increase the total t o 4 4 n a v y c o a s t a l batteries. T h e difficulties of m o v i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n s u p p l i e s t o m a n y o f the m o r e remote c o a s t a l p o s i t i o n s forced the n a v a l c o a s t a l batteries t o d e p l o y in o p e n field e m p l a c e m e n t s in m a n y l o c a t i o n s . A s a m i n i m u m , a t t e m p t s w e r e m a d e t o p r o v i d e a concrete p l a t f o r m w i t h pintle m o u n t for m e d i u m c o a s t a l g u n s a n d to p r o v i d e s o m e f o r m of p r o t e c t e d a m m u n i t i o n a n d c r e w shelter. T h e British coastal raids in M a r c h 1 9 4 1 infuriated Hitler a n d triggered a s c h e m e to increase the N o r w e g i a n c o a s t a l batteries w i t h 1 6 0 a r m y c o a s t a l batteries. T h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f c o a s t a l artillery p i e c e s d e p l o y e d t o N o r w a y w e r e w a r - b o o t y r a t h e r t h a n s t a n d a r d G e r m a n field artillery o r n a v a l g u n s ; a b o u t 1 , 1 0 0 g u n s w e r e e v e n t u a l l y d e p l o y e d in N o r w a y . In c o m p a r i s o n , there w e r e
Guns
Batteries
406mm
7
2
380mm
6
2
305mm
4
1
280mm
12
4
240mm
13
3
210mm
73
23
170mm
15
4
155mm
242
52
145mm
50
11
130mm
12
3
127mm
24
6
122mm
5
1
120mm
39
11
105mm
368
95
100mm
46
12
65-94mm
117
30
1,033
260
Total
39
The Gneisenau t u r r e t of Batterie Fjell (MKB.l 1/504) near Bergen was covered w i t h a c a m o u f l a g e umbrella typical of Norwegian sites consisting of w o o d e n outriggers and wire n e t t i n g w i t h painted metal squares and dried brush. (NARA)
T a b l e 6: c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s , A d m i r a l P o l a r C o a s t Artillery group
C o m m a n d unit
Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Sydvaranger
HKAA.478
Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Nordvaranger
Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Vardo-Kiberg
Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Eismeer
Art.Gr. Underavsnitt Tanafjord
Art.Gr. Kistrand
Art.Gr. Hammerfest
Art.Gr. Nordkapp
Art.Gr. Alta
Art.Gr. Oksfjord
Art.Gr. Nordreisa
Art.Gr. Varto
40
2./MKB.513
MAA.513
HKAA.448
HKAA.480
I./HKAA.971
II./HKAA.971
IV./HKAA.971
MAA.514
III./HKAA.971
I./HKAA.972
MAA.448
HKB 1/478
HKB 2/478
HKB 4/478
HKB 6/478
HKB 999
MKB 3/517
MKB 4/517
4x 75mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 75mm
3x 150mm
4x 240mm
HKB 3/478
MKB 2/513
4x 105mm
3x 130mm
HKB 1/448
HKB 5/448
MKB 3/513
MKB 4/513
4x 105mm
3x210mm
3x 280mm
4x 8 8 m m
HKB 2/448
HKB 3/448
HKB 4/448
5x 145mm
5x 145mm
5x 155mm
HKB 1/480
HKB 2/480
HKB 3/480
HKB 4/480
HKB 5/480
MKB 1/513
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
6x 145mm
6x 145mm
4x 145mm
3x 130mm
HKB 4/971
HKB 5/971
HKB 6/971
HKB 7/971
HKB 31/971
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
3x 130mm
HKB 3/971
HKB 16/971
HKB 17/971
HKB 18/971
HKB 19/971
MKB 1/514
MKB 5/514
4x 105mm
6x 155mm
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
3x 130mm
4x 100mm
HKB 1/971
HKB 2/971
HKB 8/971
MKB 2/514
6x 145mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4 x 170mm
HKB 36/971
HKB 37/971
MKB 3/514
MKB 4/514
MKB 6/514
MKB 7/514
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
3x 130mm
4x 150mm
4x 105mm
HKB 32/971
HKB 33/971
HKB 34/971
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
6x 155mm
HKB 33/971
HKB 2/972
HKB 3/972
6x 145mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
HKB 4/971
HKB 31/971
HKB 1/972
HKB 4/972
HKB 5/972
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
6x 145mm
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
Art.Gr. Ullsfjord
Art.Gr. Tromso
Art.Gr. Balsfjord
Art.Gr. Senja
Art.Gr. Gavlfjord
Art.Gr. Vagsfjord
Art.Gr. Harstad
Art.Gr. Andfjord
Art.Gr. Salangen
Art.Gr. Narvik
Art.Ob.Gr. Vest-Lofoten
Art.Gr. Hadsel
Art.Gr. Flakstad
Art.Gr. Moskenes
Art.Gr. Vestvagoy
Art.Gr. Svolvaer
Art.Ob.Gr. Lodingen
Art. Gr. Ofotfjord
Art.Gr. Korsnes
Art.Gr. Vestfjord
MAA.512
HKAA.773
IV./HKAA.971
II./HKAA.972
HKAA.480
MAA.511
II./HKAA.971
II./HKAA.983
I./HKAA.983
III./HKAA.973
HKB 3/480
HKB 5/480
HKB 8/971
HKB 35/971
HKB 6/972
HKB 7/972
MKB 5/512
4x 145mm
4x 145mm
4x 105mm
4x 155mm
6x 145mm
4x 105mm
4x 150mm
HKB 18/971
HKB 8/972
MKB 2/512
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
HKB 37/971
HKB 16/972
HKB 17/972
HKB 18/972
HKB 999
MKB 1/512
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
3x 210mm
3x 210mm
4x 120mm
4x 105mm
HKB 2/480
HKB 19/972
HKB 20/972
HKB 21/972
HKB 22/972
MKB 4/512
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 155mm
3x 150mm
HKB 1/480
HKB 4/448
HKB 34/971
4x 105mm
4x 155mm
6x 155mm
MKB 1/511
MKB 2/511
MKB 3/511
MKB 5/511
MKB 6/511
MKB 7/511
3x 170mm
3x 105mm
4x 155mm
4x 4 0 6 m m
4x 150mm
3x210mm
HKB 5/983
HKB 6/983
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
HKB 12/983
HKB 13/983
HKB 14/983
HKB 15/983
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
4x 145mm
6x 155mm
HKB 1/983
HKB 2/983
HKB 3/983
4x 155mm
6x 150mm
3x 210mm
HKB 31/973
HKB 32/973
HKB 33/973
HKB 34/973
HKB 35/973
HKB 36/973
HKB 37/973
3x 210mm
3x 210mm
4x 105mm
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 120mm
4x 105mm
HKB 16/971
HKB 46/973
HKB 49/973
6x 155mm
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
HKB 5/448
HKB 4/480
HKB 2/971
HKB 5/971
HKB 32/971
HKB 36/971
3x210mm
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
4x 155mm
MKB 2/514
MKB 5/514
4x 170mm
6x 155mm
MKB 1/514
MKB 4/514
MKB 6/514
HKB 3/971
3x 130mm
3x 130mm
3x 130mm
4x 105mm
HKB 47/973
HKB 48/973
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
MKB 2/516
MKB 3/516
4x 150mm
4x 305mm
HKB 61/973
HKB 62/973
HKB 63/973
HKB 64/973
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
MKB 1/516
MKB 4/516
MKB 5/516
MKB 7/516
MKB 8/516
4x 150mm
3x 4 0 6 m m
4x 150mm
4x 100mm
4x 105mm
HKAA.971 I./HKAA.971
III./HKAA.971
5./MAA.514
MAA.514
IV./HKAA.973
MAR.30 3./ MAA516
V./HKAA.973
MAA.516
The most p o w e r f u l of t h e coastal guns d e p l o y e d in Norway was Batterie Trondenes I armed w i t h a 4 0 6 m m SKL/45 "Adolfkanone." This scale plan f r o m a US A r m y report shows its pedestal m o u n t i n g in a lightly a r m o r e d turret. (NARA)
a b o u t 2 , 2 0 0 g u n s d e p l o y e d o n the Atlantikwall in F r a n c e . T h e three m o s t n u m e r o u s t y p e s in N o r w a y w e r e F r e n c h , the S c h n e i d e r 1 0 5 m m m l e 1 9 1 3 (K331(f): 2 3 1 guns, 58 batteries); Schneider 1 0 5 m m mle. 1 9 3 6 (K332(f): 9 5 g u n s , 2 4 b a t t e r i e s ) a n d the S c h n e i d e r 1 5 5 m m m l e 1 9 1 7 ( K 4 1 6 ( f ) : 1 0 9 g u n s , 2 1 b a t t e r i e s ) . T h e m o s t w i d e l y u s e d G e r m a n g u n w a s the o b s o l e t e 2 1 c m M o r s e r 18 w i t h 4 0 in service in N o r w a y in 13 b a t t e r i e s . D e p l o y m e n t by c a l i b e r w a s a s d e s c r i b e d in T a b l e 5 .
A v i e w d u r i n g t h e construction of Batterie Trondenes I of MKB 5/511 nearHarstad shortly before its c o m p l e t i o n in t h e s u m m e r of 1943 gives some idea of t h e size of t h e w e a p o n . (NARA)
B y 1 9 4 4 , the W e h r m a c h t in N o r w a y e v e n t u a l l y d e p l o y e d a t o t a l of 1 2 n a v a l c o a s t a l artillery b a t t a l i o n s a n d 1 1 a r m y c o a s t artillery b a t t a l i o n s . B o t h t y p e s o f artillery f o r m a t i o n s w e r e u n d e r n a v a l c o m m a n d , s u b o r d i n a t e t o a special artillery staff at the r e g i o n a l S e e k o h e a d q u a r t e r s . D u e to the distances i n v o l v e d , a s well a s the c o n f u s i n g g e o g r a p h i c i n t e r m i x t u r e of n a v a l a n d a r m y batteries, the W e h r m a c h t in N o r w a y decided to create a n intermediate artillery c o m m a n d s t r u c t u r e n o t u s u a l l y f o u n d e l s e w h e r e o n the Atlantikwall, the Artillery G r o u p (Art. G p . : Artilleriegruppe), which controlled mixed naval a n d a r m y batteries a s d e t a i l e d below. S o m e of these g r o u p s w e r e fairly l a r g e , w i t h several g u n batteries a s well a s a s s o c i a t e d t o r p e d o a n d r a d a r batteries. A s a r e s u l t , s o m e o f the l a r g e r artillery g r o u p s w e r e in t u r n b r o k e n d o w n into tactical artillery s u b - g r o u p s (Artillerie-Untergruppe) to control a
11 s
-M
42
specific o b j e c t i v e , s u c h a s a fjord. In the c a s e s o f B e r g e n a n d N a r v i k , the sheer n u m b e r o f b a t t e r i e s in t h e s e s e c t o r s f o r c e d the c r e a t i o n of three s u p e r g r o u p s t o c o o r d i n a t e the artillery f o r m a t i o n s . A r t . O b . G r . (Artillerie-Obergruppen) Forde c o n t r o l l e d the artillery g r o u p s in the Bergen area, Art.Ob.Gr.Vest-Lofoten c o n t r o l l e d five artillery g r o u p s o n the s o u t h e r n a p p r o a c h e s t o N a r v i k , a n d A r t . O b . G r . L o d i n g e n controlled three artillery g r o u p s in the H a r s t a d area o n the n o r t h e r n Narvik a p p r o a c h e s . In c o n t r a s t to other a r e a s o f the Atlantikwall such as F r a n c e a n d the N e t h e r l a n d s , there w e r e f e w d e d i c a t e d flak r e g i m e n t s for c o a s t a l d e f e n s e . I n s t e a d , flak b a t t e r i e s w e r e d e p l o y e d w i t h i n the a r m y c o a s t a l artillery r e g i m e n t s .
T a b l e 7: c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s , A d m i r a l N o r t h C o a s t Artillery g r o u p
C o m m a n d unit
Art.Gr. Folda
I./HKAA.974
Art.Gr. Bodo
Art.Gr. Sandessjoen
Art.Gr. Bronnoysund
Art.Gr. Vikna
Art.Gr. Namsos
Art.Gr. Orlandet
Art.Gr. Trondheim-Ost
Art.Gr. TrondheimVest
Art.Gr. Kristiansund
Art.Gr. More
Art.Gr. Romsdal
Art.Gr. Alesund
Art.Gr. Stadlandet
MAA.510
II./HKAA.974
lll.HKAA.974
MAA.500
I./HKAA.975
MAA.507
MAA.506
II./HKAA.975
I./HKAA.976
MAA.505
II./HKAA.976
lll.HKAA.976
IV./HKAA.976
HKB 1/971
HKB 7/971
HKB 1/974
HKB 2/974
HKB 3/974
HKB 8/974
6x 145mm
4x 105mm
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
6x 210mm
4x 8 8 m m
HKB 4/974
HKB 5/974
HKB 6/974
HKB 7/974
HKB 9/974
HKB 10/974
MKB 4/510
3x 210mm
4x 105mm
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
5x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 150mm
MKB 5/510
MKB 6/510
4x 150mm
4x 150mm
HKB 16/974
HKB 17/974
HKB 18/974
HKB 19/974
HKB 20/974
HKB 21/974
HKB 22/974
4x 155mm
4x 75mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x105mm
MKB 1/510
MKB 2/510
MKB 3/510
4x 127mm
4x 120mm
4x 105mm
HKB 31/974
HKB 32/974
HKB 33/974
6x 155mm
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
HKB 1/975
MKB 1/500
MKB 2/500
4x 75mm
4x 127mm
4x 127mm
HKB 2/975
HKB 3/975
HKB 4/975
HKB 5/975
HKB 6/975
HKB 7/975
HKB 8/975
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
3x 210mm
5x 155mm
5x 105mm
HKB 16/975
HKB 18/975
HKB 19/975
MKB 1/507
MKB 4/507
5x 105mm
4x 105mm
6x 150mm
3x 280mm
3x 280mm
MKB 1/506
MKB 2/506
MKB 3/506
MKB 4/506
MKB 5/506
HKB 17/975
3x 150mm+ 2x 210mm
4x 150mm+ 2x210mm
4x 150mm
3x 120mm
3x 105mm
3x 150mm
HKB 20/975
HKB 21/975
HKB 22/975
HKB 23/975
HKB 24/975
HKB 25/975
HKB 26/975
4x 155mm
6x 210mm
4x 150mm
4x 155mm
4x 76mm
4x 76mm
4x 7 6 m m
HKB 27/975
HKB 6/971
HKB 2/976
4x 105mm
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
HKB 3/976
HKB 4/976
HKB 5/976
HKB 6/976
HKB 7/976
MKB 3/505
4x 120mm
4x 8 8 m m
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 155mm
3x 150mm
HKB 16/976
HKB 17/976
HKB 18/976
HKB 24/976
HKB 25/976
MKB 1/505
4x 88mm
6x 155mm
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 8 8 m m
4x 105mm
HKB 19/976
HKB 20/976
HKB 21/976
HKB 22/976
4x 105mm
3x210mm
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
HKB 23/976
HKB 30/976
HKB 31/976
HKB 32/976
HKB 33/976
HKB 34/976
MKB 2/505
4x 105mm
4x 8 8 m m
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 8 8 m m
3x 150mm
HKB 35/976
HKB 36/976
HKB 37/976
HKB 38/976
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
6x 155mm
43
T a b l e 8: c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s , A d m i r a l W e s t C o a s t Artillery group
C o m m a n d unit
Art. Ob. Gr. Forde
HKAA.981
HKB 5/981
Art.Gr. Nordfjord
I./HKAA.981
HKB 1/981
HKB 2/981
HKB 3/981
HKB 4/981
HKB 6/981
HKB 17/981
MKB 9/504
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
3x 130mm
HKB 11/981
HKB 12/981
HKB 13/981
HKB 14/981
HKB 15/981
HKB 16/981
MKB 7/504
4x 105mm
4x 8 8 m m
4x 105mm
4x 100mm
4x 100mm
4x 105mm
4x 127mm
HKB 31/977
HKB 32/977
HKB 33/977
HKB 34/977
HKB 35, 37/977
HKB 38/977
MKB 5/504
4x 145mm
5x 155mm
4x210mm
4x 105mm
4+ 4x 88mm
5x 105mm
3x 150mm
HKB 36/977
MKB 1/504
MKB 2/504
MKB 3/504
MKB 4/504
MKB 11/504
4x 105mm
3x210mm
3x 240mm
3x 240mm
3x 210mm
3x 280mm
HKB 46/977
HKB 47/977
HKB 48/977
HKB 49/977
HKB 50/977
MKB 6/504
MKB 8/504
4x 8 8 m m
3x 210mm
4x 100mm
4x 105mm
4x 100mm
4x 150mm
4x 127mm
HKB 61/977
HKB 62/977
HKB 63/977
4x 8 8 m m
4x 88mm
6x 155mm
HKB 64/977
HKB 65/977
HKB 66/977
HKB 68/977
MKB 10/504
3x 210mm
4x 145mm
6x 155mm
4x 75mm
4x 150mm
HKB 1/978
HKB 2/978
HKB 3/978
HKB 67/977
6x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 122mm
4x 145mm
HKB 4/978
HKB 6/978
MKB 1/503
4x 150mm
4x 100mm
3x 100mm
HKB 8/978
HKB 9/978
HKB 16/978
HKB 17/978
MKB 3/503
MKB 6/503
4x 100mm
4x 210mm
4x 100mm
4x 105mm
4x 170mm
4x 240mm
HKB 18/978
HKB 19/978
HKB 20/978
MKB 4/503
4x 8 8 m m
4x 210mm
4x 100mm
4x 127mm
HKB 21/978
HKB 22/978
HKB 23/978
HKB 24/978
HKB 25/978
MKB 5/503
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
6x 150mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
3x 150mm
HKB 17/979
HKB 18/979
HKB 19/979
HKB 20/979
HKB 21/979
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 155mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
MKB 1/502
MKB 2/502
MKB 3/502
MKB 5/502
MKB 6/502
3x 150mm
3x 150mm
2x 210mm
4x 240mm
3x 380mm
HKB 31/979
HKB 32/979
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
HKB 33/979
HKB 34/979
HKB 35/979
HKB 36/979
HKB 37/979
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
HKB 1/980
HKB 2/980
HKB 3/980
HKB 4/980
HKB 5/980
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 120mm
4x 88mm
4x 120mm
Art.Gr. Sognefjord
Art.Gr. Hjeltefjord
Art.Gr. Bergen
Art.Gr. Korsfjord
Art.Gr. Bomlafjord
Art.Gr. Haugesund
Art.Gr. Karmoy-Syd
Art.Gr. Stavanger-Havn
Art.Gr. Stavanger-Syd
Art.Gr. Egersund
Art.Gr. Vanse
Art.Gr. Mandal/Sogne
Art.Gr. Kristiansand
Art.Gr. Lillesand
Art.Gr. Arendal
Art.Gr. Larvik
44
HKAA.981
III./HKAA.977
MAA.504
IV./HKAA.977
IV./HKAA.977
V./HKAA.977
IV./HKAA.978
6./HKAA.978
I./HKAA.978
II./HKAA.978
III./HKAA.978
II./HKAA.979
MAA.502
III./HKAA.979
III./HKAA.979
I./HKAA.980
Art.Gr. Makeroy
Art.Gr. Fredrikstad
MAA.501
I./HKAA.980
HKB 8/980
MKB 3/501
MKB 4/501
MKB 6/501
MKB 5/501
MKB 2/501
4x 105mm
4x 150mm
4x 150mm
3x 380mm
3x 280mm
4x 150mm
HKB 6/980
HKB 7/980
HKB 17/971
4x 100mm
4x 100mm
4x 155mm
Note:
Coastal artillery units in Norway were designated in an alternate format than elsewhere on the Atlantikwall. The format for batteries in Norway was, for example, HKB 6/908 where HKB or MKB identifies army or navy battery, prefix (6) identifies battery number, suffix (908) identifies parent regiment. The standard format for battalions elsewhere was, for example, 1./HKAA.980 where numeral prefix (1.) identifies the battery, a Roman numeral prefix (II.) identifies a battalion, and a numerical suffix (980) identifies parent regiment.
By far the m o s t spectacular c o a s t a l artillery in N o r w a y w e r e the three d o z e n heavy naval g u n s , usually surplus w a r s h i p w e a p o n s , assigned to critical defensive assignments. T h e m o s t powerful of these w e a p o n s w e r e the " A d o l f k a n o n e n , " a set of 4 0 6 m m g u n s originally i n t e n d e d for the n e v e r - c o m p l e t e d H - c l a s s battleships. T h e y were installed in the islands shielding N a r v i k a n d were intended to cover all sea a p p r o a c h e s to this p o r t . T h e V a r a battery near K r i s t i a n s a n d o n A l t h o u g h g u n casemates w e r e relatively u n c o m m o n in Norway c o m p a r e d w i t h other sections of the
Atlantikwall,
some of t h e more i m p o r t a n t batteries in t h e south were reinforced. Batterie Vara of MKB 6/502 covering t h e Skaggerak w i t h its three 3 8 0 m m SKC/34 guns was scheduled t o be m o v e d t o this impressive S169 casemate, b u t it was never c o m p l e t e d . It is seen here d u r i n g an inspection of US A r m y officers i m m e d i a t e l y after t h e war. (NARA)
T a b l e 9: h e a v y c o a s t a l g u n s i n N o r w a y Battery
Unit
Location
Number
Type
Source
Batterie Trondenes I
MKB 5/511
Harstad
4
4 0 5 m m SKC/34
H-class battleship project
Batterie Engeloy
MKB 4/516
Engeloy island
3
4 0 5 m m SKC/34
H-class battleship project
Batterie Vara
MKB 6/502
Movik
3
38cm SKC/34
battlecruiser projects
Batterie Notteroy
MKB 6/501
Vardasen
3
38cm KM36/35(f)
French battleship Jean-Bart
Batterie Lodingen
MKB 3/516
Makeroy
4
305mm Bofors L/30
pre-war Norwegian coastal gun
Batterie Husoen
MKB 1/507
Ostersjoomradet
3
28cm SKL/45
cruiser Goeben
Batterie Kiberg
MKB 3/513
Husaen
3
28cm SKL/45
WWI warships
Batterie Orlandet
MKB 4/507
Orlandet
3
28cm SKC/34 (triple)
battleship Gneisenau
Batterie Fjell
MKB 11/504
Fjell
3
28cm SKC/34 (triple)
battleship Gneisenau
Batterie Mestersand
MKB 4/517
Sylt
4
24cm SKL/40
pre-1900 battleships and cruisers
45
T a b l e 10: K r i e g s m a r i n e t o r p e d o b a t t e r i e s in N o r w a y Battery
Torpedo
Artillery G r o u p
Local naval c o m m a n d
Torpedobatterie Bokfjord
4x 53cm
Art.Gr. Un. Sydvaranger
MAA.513
Torpedobatterie Porsoy
2x 53cm
Art. Gr. Ofotfjord
MAA.516
Torpedobatterie Korshamn
2x 53cm
Art. Gr. Ofotfjord
MAA.516
Torpedobatterie Ledangsholm
4x 53cm
Art. Gr. Namsos
MAA.506
Torpedobatterie Hasselvik (Hysness)
4x 53cm
Art. Gr. Trondheim-ost
MAA.506
Torpedobatterie Hambaara
4x 53cm
Art. Gr. Trondheim-ost
MAA.506
Torpedobatterie Nordlandet
4x 53cm
Art. Gr. More
MAA.505
Torpedobatterie Julholmen
2x 52cm
Art. Gr. More
MAA.505
Torpedobatterie Otteroy syd
2x 52cm
Art. Gr. More
MAA.505
Torpedobatterie Angelshaug (Vemelsvik)
2x 45cm
Art. Gr. Nordfjord
MAA.504
Torpedobatterie Rutledal
2x45cm
Art. Gr. Sognefjord
MAA.504
Torpedobatterie Hjelte (Herdla)
3x 53cm
Art. Gr. Hjeltefjord
MAA.504
Torpedobatterie Gavlen
2x 45cm
Art. Gr. Hjeltefjord
MAA.504
Torpedobatterie Kvarven
3x 45cm
Art. Gr. Bergen
MAA.504
Torpedobatterie Radne (Leroy)
3x 53cm
Art. Gr. Bergen
MAA.504
Torpedobatterie Ljones
2x 45cm
Art. Gr. Korsfjord
MAA.504
Torpedobatterie Kaholm
3x 45cm
Art. Gr. Makeroy
MAA.501
the S k a g e r r a k w a s m o u n t e d in similar single-gun turrets in a n S I 6 9 kettle p o s i t i o n ; a set of m a s s i v e c a s e m a t e s w a s under construction but not occupied at the end of the war. A l t h o u g h of less impressive size, m a n y other surplus w a r s h i p turrets w e r e d e p l o y e d in N o r w a y including eight 1 5 0 m m S K C / 2 8 g u n s in twin C / 3 6 turrets intended for the incomplete Graf Zeppelin aircraft carrier.
BATTERIE TRONDENES I, 5./MAA.511, HARSTAD, NORWAY The most powerful guns emplaced in Norway were the massive Krupp 4 0 6 m m Adolfkanonen in t w o batteries at Steigen and
Each battery consisted of four gun positions, located about 2 5 0 m apart. Battery Trondenes I, also known as Batterie Theo,
Trondenes, which had a m a x i m u m range of 5 6 k m (35 miles). The
was located on a rocky headland north of Harstad, and positioned
guns were leftovers from the abortive H-class battleships. Since the
to cover the Andfjorden and Vagsfjorden on the northern
naval turrets were never completed, the guns were m o u n t e d in a
approaches to Narvik. Its sister, Batterie Dietl, was located on
special BSG {Bettungshiess-Gerust)
Engeloy to cover the Vestfjorden on the southern approach to
single mounting with a turret of
light 4 5 m m armor steel. The guns were fitted to an S384 complex,
Narvik. The four gun positions were located 8 5 - 1 0 5 m above sea
which consisted of a deep concrete well with a high gun pedestal,
level. Construction of the battery started in 1942, but the battery
along with a series of tunnels leading back into reinforced concrete
was not entirely complete at war's end. A reserve ammunition
ammunition galleries behind the gun. In contrast to the sister
bunker and an emergency headquarters for the regional Seeko
battery in France, Batterie Lindemann near Calais, an overhead
were still under construction. The battery was protected by an
casemate was never built for the Norwegian batteries. The turret
8 8 m m flak battery and three more light flak batteries (37mm and
was covered with a camouflage umbrella constructed of w o o d
7 7 m m ) in the area. Batterie Harstad Nord (1./MAA.511) with three
outriggers with wire netting garnished with pieces of white and
1 7 0 m m guns was positioned downhill from Batterie Trondenes
green waxed paper and bunches of dried grass.
at the tip of the headlands for sea-level defense.
Batterie Flakfort of 1 ./MAA.508 covering t h e C o p e n h a g e n roadstead was a f o r m e r Danish battery e q u i p p e d w i t h six of these t u r r e t e d 2 1 0 m m SKL/51 guns. (NARA)
Torpedo
T a b l e 1 1 : K-Verbande in N o r w a y , 1945 Unit
Base
I.K-Di vision
Narvik
K-Flotilla 2/265
Engeloy
11 Biber
K-Flotilla 1/215
Ullvik
30 Linse
K-Flotilla 1/362
Brenvik
20 Marder
MEK.35
Harstad
60 troops
MEK.90
Oslo
30 troops
2.K-Division
Trondheim
K-Flotilla 2/216
Namsos
24 Linse
K-Flotilla 1/216
Selvenas
36 Linse
K-Flotilla 1/267
Kristiansund
15 Biber
K-Flotilla 2/267
Molde
15 Biber
MEK.30
Molde
80 troops
3.K-Division
Bergen
K-Flotilla 1/362
Herdla
20 Marder
K-Flotilla 215
Flatoy
30 Linse
K-Flotilla 2/362
Krokeidet
20 Marder
K-Flotilla 415
Stavanger
30 Molch
K-Flotilla 1/263
Sogne-Hollen
14 Biber
K-Flotilla 2/263
Tangen-Stolsviken
15 Biber
MEK.25
Stend-Bergen
60 troops
4.K-Division
Oslofjord
K-Flotilla 265
Haao
20 Biber
K-Flotilla 1/366
Stavern
15 Marder
K-Flotilla 2/366
Mageroy
15 Marder
48
Weapons
batteries
T h e v a l u e o f t o r p e d o b a t t e r i e s in the d e f e n s e o f N o r w a y ' s n u m e r o u s f j o r d s w a s m a d e p a i n f u l l y a p p a r e n t t o the K r i e g s m a r i n e o n A p r i l 9 , 1 9 4 0 w h e n the cruiser Bliicher w a s s u n k b y t w o 2 8 c m t o r p e d o e s f r o m the O s c a r b o r g fort in Oslofjord. T h e N o r w e g i a n navy had begun establishing t o r p e d o b a t t e r i e s a s e a r l y a s 1 8 9 0 , m o u n t e d in c o n c e a l e d u n d e r w a t e r l a u n c h e r s . T h e s e batteries w e r e p o s i t i o n e d t o c o v e r p a s s a g e w a y s that were 5 , 0 0 0 m wide or less. Besides taking over several N o r w e g i a n batteries and using N o r w e g i a n navy e q u i p m e n t t o c r e a t e o t h e r s , the K r i e g s m a r i n e i n s t a l l e d their o w n batteries, eventually t o t a l i n g 1 7 s h o r e batteries. In c o n t r a s t t o the o r i g i n a l N o r w e g i a n b a t t e r i e s , the G e r m a n b a t t e r i e s t y p i c a l l y u s e d d e s t r o y e r - t y p e triple l a u n c h t u b e s m o u n t e d o n the s u r f a c e in a c o n c r e t e b u i l d i n g w i t h a f i r e - c o n t r o l p o s t located nearby, often s u p p o r t e d by a searchlight. A typical b a t t e r y c o n s i s t e d o f t h r e e officers a n d 4 0 m e n , a n d w a s s u b o r d i n a t e d t o the c o a s t a l artillery b a t t a l i o n in the a r e a . In a d d i t i o n t o the s h o r e b a t t e r i e s , t w o f l o a t i n g b a t t e r i e s w e r e d e p l o y e d in B e r g e n .
Denmark D e n m a r k w a s t h e m o s t o b s c u r e p o r t i o n o f the Atlantikwall. D e n m a r k h a d very m o d e s t c o a s t a l defenses p r i o r t o the 1 9 4 0 invasion, mainly centered a r o u n d Copenhagen's harbor. As a s h o r t - t e r m e x p e d i e n t , in the s u m m e r of 1 9 4 0 the W e h r m a c h t d e p l o y e d 1 5 n a v y c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s a t the m a j o r h a r b o r s a n d m a j o r c h o k e p o i n t s l e a d i n g i n t o the B a l t i c , b a s e d p r i m a r i l y o n o l d w a r - b o o t y artillery t a k e n f r o m the D a n i s h a r s e n a l . T h e n a v a l c o m m a n d in D e n m a r k w a s d e s i g n a t e d A d m i r a l S k a g g e r a k a n d w a s s u b o r d i n a t e t o the N a v y B a l t i c H i g h C o m m a n d {Marine Oberkommando Ostsee); there w e r e three subordinate Seeko. The Army High C o m m a n d Denmark ( A O K - D a n e m a r k ) w a s the c o r r e s p o n d i n g a r m y c o m m a n d . T h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 4 0 s a w the first m a j o r c o n s t r u c t i o n effort with a s c h e m e to d e p l o y t w o h e a v y c o a s t a l batteries in D e n m a r k : o n e a t H a n s t h o l m o p p o s i t e N o r w a y t o c o n t r o l the S k a g g e r a k , a n d a p a i r o n B o r n h o l m in the Baltic to cover the K a t t e g a t . In the event, the i n v a s i o n o f the S o v i e t U n i o n in 1 9 4 1 curtailed the B o r n h o l m p l a n s , b u t the H a n s t h o l m p r o j e c t c o n t i n u e d a l o n g w i t h a c o r r e s p o n d i n g b a t t e r y o n the N o r w e g i a n side of the
S k a g g e r a k , Batterie V a r a . T h e R o y a l N a v y r a i d s o n the N o r w e g i a n c o a s t in early 1 9 4 1 f o r c e d the W e h r m a c h t t o r e c o g n i z e the w e a k p r o t e c t i o n o n the D a n i s h c o a s t , a n d in late April 1 9 4 0 the a r m y d e c i d e d t o d e p l o y ten c o a s t a l artillery batteries to D e n m a r k while the n a v y e x p a n d e d its c o v e r a g e , especially the a p p r o a c h e s t o the S o u n d a n d the S m a l l a n d G r e a t Belts. A s in N o r w a y , m o s t of the attention t h r o u g h 1 9 4 4 w a s in p r o v i d i n g defense for m a j o r p o r t s , t h o u g h in D e n m a r k this effort e x t e n d e d t o c o v e r i n g the v a r i o u s c h o k e p o i n t s into the Baltic. Since D e n m a r k w a s often o v e r f l o w n by Allied b o m b e r s o n their w a y to G e r m a n p o r t s , D e n m a r k h a d a very s u b s t a n t i a l L u f t w a f f e fortification a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n effort with n u m e r o u s r a d a r a n d flak sites. By the s u m m e r of 1 9 4 3 , w i t h the Atlantikwall p r o g r a m in full b l o o m in F r a n c e a n d the L o w C o u n t r i e s , the W e h r m a c h t b e g a n to e x a m i n e a p o s s i b l e threat of a n Allied a m p h i b i o u s landing in western D e n m a r k a i m e d at r e a c h i n g northern Germany. T h e m o s t likely landing areas were considered to be northern J u t l a n d or the E s b j e r g a r e a . O n e of the i m m e d i a t e o u t c o m e s of this a s s e s s m e n t w a s to substantially a u g m e n t the c o a s t a l batteries o n F a n o Island off E s b j e r g a s well a s g u n batteries t o defend the p o r t itself; 1 2 m o r e a r m y artillery batteries were a l s o allotted t o D e n m a r k . F o u r a r e a s w e r e d e c l a r e d D e f e n s e Z o n e s (Verteidigungsbereiche): Esbjerg, Hansted, Frederikshavn and Aalborg. The v a r i o u s infantry a n d artillery p o s i t i o n s w e r e c o n s o l i d a t e d into s t r o n g p o i n t g r o u p s for greater unity of c o m m a n d a n d a t o t a l of 2 0 of these g r o u p s w e r e organized, seven of which w e r e a i r b a s e s rather t h a n c o a s t a l defense sectors. In s p i t e o f the N o r m a n d y i n v a s i o n in J u n e 1 9 4 4 , the W e h r m a c h t c o n t i n u e d t o be c o n c e r n e d o v e r t h r e a t s t o D e n m a r k , b a s e d o n the m i s t a k e n intelligence a s s e s s m e n t t h a t the Allies w e r e w i t h h o l d i n g f o r c e s for p o s s i b l e o p e r a t i o n s a g a i n s t D e n m a r k or N o r w a y . T h e K r i e g s m a r i n e w a s c o n v i n c e d that the g r e a t e s t t h r e a t w a s a g a i n s t the K a t t e g a t o n the e a s t e r n J u t l a n d c o a s t , the p r e s u m p t i o n b e i n g t h a t Allied a c t i o n s t o c o n t r o l this a r e a w o u l d b l o c k U - b o a t s c o n s t r u c t e d in the Baltic p o r t s f r o m r e a c h i n g their n e w o p e r a t i n g b a s e s in N o r w a y . A s a result, a p r o g r a m t o a d d 2 9 n a v a l batteries w a s b e g u n . In c o n t r a s t , H i t l e r a n d the a r m y w e r e m o r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t the t h r e a t p o s e d t o the w e s t e r n c o a s t o f J u t l a n d a s a p o t e n t i a l s h o r t c u t i n t o n o r t h e r n G e r m a n y . T h i s r e s u l t e d in t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f three i n l a n d b l o c k i n g p o s i t i o n s , c o d e n a m e d the B r u n h i l d , G u d r u n a n d K r i e h i l d lines, c o n s i s t i n g o f a n t i t a n k ditches a n d field f o r t i f i c a t i o n s r a t h e r t h a n e l a b o r a t e c o n c r e t e fortifications. By late 1 9 4 4 , the s i t u a t i o n w a s e v e n m o r e
ABOVE LEFT This is one of t h e turreted St. Chamond 2 1 0 m m guns of MKB 3/502 at Flekkeroy first deployed in t h e summer of 1940. Like many of t h e heavy g u n positions in Norway, the lack of overhead casemate protection led t o more extensive efforts at camouflage, sometimes including elaborate metal frames for its camouflage umbrella. (NARA)
ABOVE RIGHT Verteidigungsbereich Hansted was the most heavily defended sector o n t h e Danish coast, covering the southern shores of the Skaggerak opposite Kristiansand in Norway. The first major fortified battery constructed there was Hanstholm I, begun in May 1940, armed w i t h these old 1902 German 170mm naval guns. These were deployed in M270 casemates and t h e battery was manned by 1 ./MAA.118. (NARA)
BELOW Coastal t o r p e d o batteries were most c o m m o n in Norway due t o their value in covering narrow fjords. This is one of t h e t w o 53cm launchers of Torpedobatterie Korshamn of MAA.516 at Ofotfjorden. (NARA)
49
TOP
LEFT
The cruiser Gneisenau served as t h e source for several heavy
T a b l e 12: K r i e g s m a r i n e Coastal Artillery B a t t e r i e s in D e n m a r k
MAA.134
Sylt
8./MAA.134
batteries in t h e Netherlands a n d Scandinavia, i n c l u d i n g
4 x 76mm
Batterie Stordal of 2./MAA.518 o n Fano Island in Denmark t h a t
MAA.518
Esbjerg
2./MAA.518
3./MAA.518
4./MAA.518
4x 150mm
4x 150mm
4x 380mm
1./MAA.118
2./MAA.118
3./MAA.118
4x 170mm
4x 380mm
4x 120mm
1./MAA.509
2./MAA.509
3./MAA.509
4./MAA.509
5./MAA.509
4x 105mm
4x 120mm
8x 120mm
4x 127mm
4x 150mm
1./MAA.521
2./MAA.521
3./MAA.521
4./MAA.521
5./MAA.521
4x 150mm
4x 8 8 m m
4x88mm
4x 127mm
4x 75mm
6./MAA.521
7./MAA.521
4x75mm
4x 305mm
2./MAA.523
3./MAA.523
4./MAA.523
5./MAA.523
6./MAA.523
4x 75mm
4x 75mm
4x 75mm
4x 105mm
4x 75mm
2./MAA.524
3./MAA.524
4./MAA.524
5./MAA.524
6./MAA.524
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 75mm
4x 75mm
3x 105mm
3./MAA.522
4./MAA.522
5./MAA.522
6./MAA.522
7./MAA.522
4x 75mm
4x 150mm
4x 75mm
4x 75mm
4x 127mm
8./MAA.522
10./MAA.522
11 ./MAA.522
12./MAA.522
4x 75mm
4x 105mm
3x 88mm
4x 75mm
1./MAA.508
2./MAA.508
3./MAA.508
4./MAA.508
5./MAA.508
6x 210mm
4x 120mm
4x 88mm
4x 75mm
4x 150mm
6./MAA.508
7./MAA.508
8./MAA.508
4x 75mm
12x 170mm+ 6x 305mm
4x 127mm
was constructed late in 1944, a r m e d w i t h a t w i n 1 5 0 m m SK L/55 in a C/28 turret o n an M 184 bunker. This battery was
MAA.118
Hanstholm
preserved after t h e war. (NARA) TOP
RIGHT
One of t h e more c o m m o n
MAA.509
Lokken
t u r r e t e d guns f o u n d in t h e Netherlands and Denmark was t h e dual-purpose 1 0 5 m m SK C/32 naval anti-aircraft g u n
MAA.521
Hals
seen here as part of t h e VB Hansted defenses, m a n n e d by MFA.814. The a r m o r e d turret is c o m p l e t e l y covered in camouflage net w i t h paper or metal garnishing. (NARA) MAA.523
MAA.524
MAA.522
MAA.508
50
Grena
Arhus
Nykobing
Copenhagen
T a b l e 13: K r i e g s m a r i n e C o a s t a l F l a k B a t t e r i e s in D e n m a r k
MFA.234
Sylt
7./MFA.234 4x 75mm
MFA.204
MFA.814
MFA.716
MFA.717
Esbjerg
Hanstholm
Frederikshavn
Arhus
2./MFA.204
3./MFA.204
4./MFA.204
5./MFA.204
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
2./MFA.814
3./MFA.814
4./MFA.814
5./MFA.814
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
2./MFA.716
3./MFA.716
4./MFA.716
4x 105mm
4x 105mm
4x 75mm
2./MFA.717
3./MFA.717
4./MFA.717
5./MFA.717
4x 8 8 m m
4x 75mm
4x 8 8 m m
4x 75mm
T a b l e 14: A r m y C o a s t a l A r t i l l e r y B a t t e r i e s in D e n m a r k
I./HKAR.180
Vemb
II./HKAR.180
Vrogum
III./HKAR.180
Hjorring
1./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
6./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
9./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
2./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
7./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
10./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
3./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
8./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
20./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
4./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
11./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
21./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
5./HKAR.180
4x 105mm
12./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
17./HKAR.180
4x 194mm
13./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
18./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
14./HKAR.180
4x 150mm
19./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
15./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
20./HKAR.180
6x 152mm
16./HKAR.180
4x 122mm
unsettled d u e t o the a d v a n c e o f the R e d A r m y f r o m the e a s t a s well a s S o v i e t n a v a l o p e r a t i o n s in the B a l t i c . In c o n s e q u e n c e , A O K - D a n e m a r k w a s o v e r r u l e d , a n d p r i o r i t y for d e f e n s i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n s h i f t e d t o the K a t t e g a t c o a s t l i n e , a s r e c o m m e n d e d by the n a v y . T h e K r i e g s m a r i n e p l a n n e d t o d e p l o y 2 0 m o r e b a t t e r i e s in e a r l y 1 9 4 5 , b u t the c o l l a p s e o f t h e G e r m a n w a r e c o n o m y p r e v e n t e d this; in A p r i l 1 9 4 5 there w e r e s u b s t a n t i a l shifts o f c o a s t a l g u n batteries f r o m D e n m a r k t o the E a s t e r n f r o n t . L i k e w i s e , there w a s c o n s i d e r a b l e t u r m o i l in the a r m y c o a s t a l artillery batteries a s A O K - D a n e m a r k realized that the m o r e likely threat t o D e n m a r k w a s n o t a n Allied a m p h i b i o u s i n v a s i o n , b u t a n Allied a d v a n c e into D e n m a r k f r o m the s o u t h via G e r m a n y . A n u m b e r o f the a r m y c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s w e r e m o v e d t o the s o u t h e r n p o r t i o n of D e n m a r k t o set u p a n e w d e f e n s e line. In t o t a l , 2 2 a r m y a n d 4 6 n a v y c o a s t a l artillery batteries w e r e d e p l o y e d in D e n m a r k d u r i n g the w a r , t h o u g h the n u m b e r w a s in flux t h r o u g h m o s t of 1 9 4 4 - 4 5 . T h e n a v y a l s o d e p l o y e d 1 6 flak batteries for the d e f e n s e of m a j o r p o r t s .
THE SITES IN COMBAT O f the f o u r c o u n t r i e s s u r v e y e d in this b o o k , o n l y the N e t h e r l a n d s e n d u r e d s i g n i f i c a n t c o m b a t a l o n g its stretch o f the Atlantikwall. Belgium's short coast w a s l i b e r a t e d b y the C a n a d i a n A r m y d u r i n g the l i g h t n i n g a d v a n c e of S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 4 . N o r w a y e x p e r i e n c e d s o m e limited fighting in O c t o b e r 1 9 4 4 w h e n the R e d A r m y s t o r m e d the a r c t i c F i n n m a r k r e g i o n , c h a s i n g the W e h r m a c h t o u t o f F i n l a n d . H o w e v e r , this d i d n o t involve e x t e n s i v e c o m b a t a l o n g the Atlantikwall. D e n m a r k e x p e r i e n c e d n o significant c o m b a t o n its p o r t i o n o f the Atlantikwall.
The Scheldt campaign A l t h o u g h the B r i t i s h A r m y c a p t u r e d A n t w e r p in m i d - S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 4 , t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o b o u n c e t h e R h i n e by a i r b o r n e a s s a u l t w i t h O p e r a t i o n Market-Garden d i s t r a c t e d A l l i e d a t t e n t i o n f r o m the p r e s s i n g n e e d t o clear b o t h b a n k s o f the S c h e l d t E s t u a r y . W i t h o u t c o n t r o l o f the Scheldt the p o r t of A n t w e r p w a s u s e l e s s , s i n c e m a r i t i m e traffic c o u l d be i n t e r d i c t e d by the n u m e r o u s G e r m a n c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s o n either s i d e . W i t h o u t the s u p p l i e s t h a t c o u l d h a v e b e e n delivered t h r o u g h A n t w e r p , the Allied a d v a n c e stalled in the a u t u m n o f 1 9 4 4 . F o l l o w i n g the d e f e a t a t A r n h e m , E i s e n h o w e r insisted that M o n t g o m e r y ' s 2 1 s t A r m y G r o u p r e f o c u s its a t t e n t i o n o n the Scheldt m i s s i o n . B y the t h i r d w e e k o f S e p t e m b e r , the W e h r m a c h t a l s o h a d r e a l i z e d the critical i m p o r t a n c e of the S c h e l d t a n d b e g a n a deliberate effort t o reinforce the p o s i t i o n s o n b o t h b a n k s o f the river. Hitler d e s i g n a t e d the B r e s k e n s p o c k e t o n the s o u t h b a n k a s Festung Scbelde Sud w h i l e the i s l a n d o f W a l c h e r e n a n d S o u t h B e v e l a n d t o the n o r t h w a s d e s i g n a t e d a s Festung Scbelde Nord. T h i s c h a n g e in d e s i g n a t i o n h a d little t o d o w i t h a n y r e i n f o r c e m e n t o f the f o r t i f i c a t i o n , r a t h e r it w a s a s y m b o l i c g e s t u r e a s H i t l e r h a d o r d e r e d all Festungen t o b e h e l d t o the l a s t m a n . O n S e p t e m b e r 1 5 , the 70.1nfanterie D i v i s i o n t o o k o v e r d e f e n s e o f W a l c h e r e n a n d S o u t h B e v e l a n d w h i l e by S e p t e m b e r 1 8 , the 64.1nfanterie D i v i s i o n t o o k u p p o s i t i o n s in the B r e s k e n s p o c k e t . T h e 6 4 t h w a s a R u s s i a n f r o n t v e t e r a n a n d by far the m o r e s t u b b o r n f o e ; the 7 0 t h w a s a s o - c a l l e d " s t o m a c h " division filled o u t w i t h t r o o p s with m e d i c a l p r o b l e m s a n d d e s i g n a t e d a s a static d i v i s i o n for c o a s t a l defense t a s k s . T h e d e f e n s e o f the B r e s k e n s p o c k e t w a s a i d e d c o n s i d e r a b l y by the barriers p r e s e n t e d by the C a n a l - d e - l a - L y s a n d the L e o p o l d C a n a l a s well a s f l o o d e d a r e a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e m . T h e r e h a d b e e n s o m e efforts m a d e in 1 9 4 4 to c r e a t e a Landfront s o u t h o f B r e s k e n s c o n s i s t i n g of s o m e p i l l b o x e s . A l t h o u g h there w e r e five m a j o r c o a s t a l artillery batteries in the B r e s k e n s p o c k e t , they h a d a limited role in the s u b s e q u e n t fighting a s their c a s e m a t e s k e p t the g u n s p o i n t e d o u t t o s e a . T h e 3 r d C a n a d i a n D i v i s i o n s e c u r e d a p e n e t r a t i o n over the L e o p o l d C a n a l o n O c t o b e r 6, 1 9 4 4 , a n d f o l l o w e d this w i t h a n a m p h i b i o u s l a n d i n g f r o m T e r n e u z e n a r o u n d the e a s t e r n s h o u l d e r of the B r e s k e n s p o c k e t o n O c t o b e r 9. In spite o f these s u c c e s s e s , the 64.1nfanterie D i v i s i o n w a g e d a d e t e r m i n e d defense a n d the p o c k e t w a s n o t c l e a r e d until early N o v e m b e r . In the m e a n t i m e , the 2 n d C a n a d i a n D i v i s i o n h a d been a s s i g n e d to clear S o u t h B e v e l a n d by p u s h i n g u p the n a r r o w i s t h m u s f r o m the east. T h e difficulty o f this a s s a u l t led t o a b o l d d e c i s i o n t o lift t w o b a t t a l i o n s f r o m the British 5 2 n d D i v i s i o n a c r o s s the S c h e l d t u s i n g a m p h i b i o u s B u f f a l o L V T ( l a n d i n g vehicle, t r a c k e d ) o f the 7 9 t h A r m o u r e d D i v i s i o n , s u p p o r t e d by S h e r m a n D D amphibious tanks on October 2 6 . The 2nd Canadian Division pushed a c r o s s S o u t h B e v e l a n d a n d r e a c h e d the n a r r o w c a u s e w a y t o W a l c h e r e n o n October 3 1 .
After the s u c c e s s o f the 5 2 n d D i v i s i o n a m p h i b i o u s o p e r a t i o n , a n o t h e r m o r e a m b i t i o u s o p e r a t i o n w a s s c h e d u l e d f o r W a l c h e r e n . E a r l i e r in t h e m o n t h , R A F B o m b e r C o m m a n d h a d struck at the Westkapelle dike, b r e a c h i n g it a n d f l o o d i n g m o s t o f the i s l a n d . T h i s c o m p l i c a t e d the G e r m a n defense effort, b u t a b o u t h a l f the G e r m a n c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s w e r e still h i g h a n d dry o n the d i k e s . T h e a m p h i b i o u s a s s a u l t w a s a t w o - p r o n g e d o p e r a t i o n c o n s i s t i n g o f O p e r a t i o n Infatuate J , a n o t h e r river l a n d i n g b y t h e 5 2 n d D i v i s i o n a g a i n s t V l i s s i n g e n ( F l u s h i n g ) u s i n g the a m p h i b i o u s e q u i p m e n t o f II b y t h e 4 t h S p e c i a l S e r v i c e the 7 9 t h A r m o u r e d D i v i s i o n ; a n d Infatuate B r i g a d e l a n d i n g by s e a a g a i n s t W e s t k a p e l l e . T h e t o w n of Vlissingen h a d been heavily fortified as M K B K e r n w e r k V l i s s i n g e n a n d i n c l u d e d 9 . / M A A . 2 0 2 . T h e d e c i s i o n t o s t a g e the l a n d i n g in the p r e d a w n h o u r s s u b s t a n t i a l l y r e d u c e d c a s u a l t i e s d u r i n g the l a n d i n g p h a s e , b u t the f i g h t i n g for the t o w n p r o v e d m o r e difficult d u e t o the n u m e r o u s bunkers and pillboxes. T h e W e s t k a p e l l e l a n d i n g z o n e w a s i m p e r i l e d b y the p r e s e n c e o f t h r e e c o a s t a l artillery b a t t e r i e s o f M A A . 2 0 2 . M K B W e s t k a p e l l e o f 6 . / M A A . 2 0 2 , identified a s " W 1 5 " in B r i t i s h d o c u m e n t s , w a s a r m e d w i t h f o u r B r i t i s h 3.7in. anti-aircraft g u n s c a p t u r e d at D u n k i r k s u p p o r t e d by t w o 7 5 m m g u n s t h a t w e r e in g u n p i t s . T h i s b a t t e r y w a s p a r t o f S t r o n g p o i n t T i e f l a n d d e f e n d e d by 5 . / G r e n a d i e r R e g i m e n t 1 0 1 8 . T h e n e i g h b o r i n g M K B Z o u t e l a n d e o f 7 . / M A A . 2 0 2 ( " W 1 3 " ) w a s armed with four 1 5 0 m m T b t K C/36 naval guns in B a u f o r m 6 7 1 c a s e m a t e s r e i n f o r c e d by t w o 7 5 m m g u n s in B a u f o r m 6 1 2 c a s e m a t e s . It w a s p a r t o f S t r o n g p o i n t R h e i n g o l d h e l d b y 5 . / G r e n a d i e r R e g i m e n t 1 0 1 8 . B e s i d e s the c o a s t a l b a t t e r i e s in t h e l a n d i n g z o n e , M K B D o m b u r g of 5 . / M A A . 2 0 2 ( " W 1 7 " ) n e a r Z o u t e l a n d e h a d f o u r F r e n c h 2 2 0 m m g u n s in o p e n p i t s , w h i c h w e r e in e a s y r e a c h o f the l a n d i n g a r e a . A l t h o u g h there h a d b e e n s o m e R A F strikes a g a i n s t the b a t t e r i e s , the m a i n g u n s w e r e functional a t the t i m e o f the British l a n d i n g s . T h e British a m p h i b i o u s force h e a d i n g t o w a r d s Westkapelle on the morning of N o v e m b e r 1 included gun- a n d rocket-firing s u p p o r t craft as well a s the b a t t l e s h i p H M S Warspite a n d the m o n i t o r s Erebus a n d Roberts. T h e g u n battle b e t w e e n the R o y a l N a v y a n d M A A . 2 0 2 b e g a n s h o r t l y after 0 8 0 0 h o u r s w i t h Warspite b o m b a r d i n g W 1 7 , Roberts versus W 1 3 and Erebus v e r s u s W 1 5 . In the e v e n t , Erebus s u f f e r e d a f a i l u r e o f its t u r r e t t r a v e r s e , a n d s o Roberts w a s o b l i g e d t o e n g a g e t w o g u n b a t t e r i e s . T h e R o y a l N a v y C l o s e S u p p o r t S q u a d r o n h a d its g u n a n d r o c k e t c r a f t split i n t o t w o g r o u p s , p l a n n i n g t o distract the G e r m a n g u n n e r s f r o m the v u l n e r a b l e infantry l a n d i n g craft. T w o L C T ( R ) r o c k e t craft o f the S o u t h e r n G r o u p w e r e hit by M K B Z o u t e l a n d e , b u t m a n a g e d t o retire after firing m o s t o f their r o c k e t s . T h e g r o u p ' s nine g u n s u p p o r t craft a t t e m p t e d t o e n g a g e the G e r m a n b u n k e r s , b u t m o s t w e r e severely d a m a g e d in a very u n e q u a l d u e l w i t h the b u n k e r s . T h e s i t u a t i o n w i t h the N o r t h e r n G r o u p w a s n o t m u c h better, a n d a n a c c i d e n t w i t h o n e o f the r o c k e t craft r e s u l t e d in s e v e r a l r o c k e t s s t r i k i n g t w o o f the g u n c r a f t . O n c e a g a i n , the h e a v i l y p r o t e c t e d M K B W e s t k a p e l l e h a d the better o f the g u n d u e l s , severely d a m a g i n g m o s t o f the g u n s u p p o r t c r a f t . O f 2 7 s u p p o r t c r a f t t a k i n g p l a c e in the o p e r a t i o n , ten w e r e s u n k a n d s i x w e r e severely d a m a g e d ; 1 7 2 s a i l o r s w e r e killed o r m i s s i n g a n d 1 2 5 w o u n d e d . T h e s a c r i f i c e o f the g u n s u p p o r t c r a f t h a d n o t b e e n in v a i n a s the 4 t h Special Service B r i g a d e l a n d e d a t W e s t k a p e l l e l a r g e l y i n t a c t s t a r t i n g a t 0 9 5 7 . By the t i m e the l a n d i n g c r a f t w e n t a s h o r e , M K B Z o u t e l a n d e h a d r u n o u t o f a m m u n i t i o n . M K B W e s t k a p e l l e c o n t i n u e d t o fire a n d d a m a g e d t w o
m o r e t a n k l a n d i n g craft; the b a t t e r y w a s finally c l e a r e d by 4 1 R o y a l M a r i n e C o m m a n d o a r o u n d n o o n w h i l e M K B Z o u t e l a n d e w a s o v e r r u n by 4 8 R o y a l M a r i n e C o m m a n d o in the e a r l y a f t e r n o o n . T h e M K B D o m b u r g p o s i t i o n w a s n o t t a k e n until the n e x t d a y . A l t h o u g h M A A . 2 0 2 h a d f a i l e d t o s t o p the l a n d i n g s , t h e s e t w o u n i t s w e r e a r g u a b l y the m o s t d e s t r u c t i v e o f a n y Atlantikwall g u n b a t t e r i e s d u r i n g the war.
TOP
LEFT
Kernwerk Vlissingen was heavily fortified along the Scheldt and this is a Bauform 143 artillery observation bunker of WN Leuchtenburg near the Orange Mole on the south side of the port. This bunker has been restored by the Bunkerbehoud
K-Verbande in the Netherlands
f o u n d a t i o n and the guardrails
T h e K r i e g s m a r i n e r e c o g n i z e d the i m p o r t a n c e o f A n t w e r p a n d l a c k i n g m e a n s t o interdict the p o r t , a s s i g n e d the K - V e r b a n d e the t a s k o f a t t a c k i n g A l l i e d s h i p p i n g . T h e o p e r a t i o n s g o t off t o a p o o r s t a r t o n the n i g h t o f O c t o b e r 5 / 6 w h e n K - F l o t i l l a . 2 1 4 s u p p o r t e d by the M E K . 6 0 c o m m a n d o s a t t e m p t e d t o a t t a c k A l l i e d m i n e s w e e p e r s f r o m their b a s e in G r o n i n g e n . T h e s m a l l b o a t s w e r e u n s e a w o r t h y in t y p i c a l a u t u m n N o r t h S e a c o n d i t i o n s , a n d after l o s i n g n e a r l y half their b o a t s the flotilla h a d t o b e r e t u r n e d t o G e r m a n y for r e b u i l d i n g w i t h o u t a c c o m p l i s h i n g a n y t h i n g ; their p l a c e w a s t a k e n b y K - F l o t i l l a . 2 1 5 . T h e i r p o o r p e r f o r m a n c e o n c o m b a t m i s s i o n s led t o s c h e m e s to use the b o a t s t o r e s u p p l y i s o l a t e d G e r m a n g a r r i s o n s a t D u n k i r k a n d in the B r e s k e n s p o c k e t . T h e s e O c t o b e r m i s s i o n s f l o p p e d d u e t o the limited c a p a c i t y of the b o a t s a n d their v u l n e r a b i l i t y t o s e a c o n d i t i o n s . T h e K - V e r b a n d e a t t e m p t e d t o u s e t h e m in the c a l m e r w a t e r s o f the S c h e l d t , a n d a r a i d w a s c o n d u c t e d o n the n i g h t o f O c t o b e r 2 3 a g a i n s t A l l i e d p o r t s s u p p o r t i n g o p e r a t i o n s o n S o u t h B e v e l a n d w i t h m e a g e r r e s u l t s . T h e b o a t flotillas w e r e ineffective a n d A d m i r a l H e y e r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t they be h e l d in r e s e r v e a s a p o t e n t i a l c o u n t e r a t t a c k f o r c e for a n y A l l i e d a m p h i b i o u s l a n d i n g s in N o r t h
are a postwar safety measure. (Author's photograph) TOP
RIGHT
This is one of t h e Bauform 671 casemates of MKB Westkapelle of 6./MAA.202 (W15) a r m e d w i t h British 3.7-inch antiaircraft guns d u r i n g t h e brutal g u n duels f o u g h t d u r i n g t h e landings o n Walcheren in N o v e m b e r 1944. T w o of t h e casemates were b l o w n u p by British engineers after t h e battle, and these surviving t w o were later d e m o l i s h e d after t h e war. This is a Dutch A r m y p h o t o taken in 1946 after t h e casemate had been disarmed. (Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie)
BATTERIE WESTKAPELLE, 6./MAA.202, WESTKAPELLE, WALCHEREN, THE NETHERLANDS This b a t t e r y , b e t t e r k n o w n b y its British m a p d e s i g n a t i o n as
t y p e w a s c a t e g o r i z e d as "ohne Nebenraume",
W 1 5 , was o n e o f t h e t w o b a t t e r i e s o f K a p i t a n R o b e r t O p a l k a ' s
larger s t o r e r o o m s s o m e t i m e s f o u n d in t h e larger c a s e m a t e
t h a t is w i t h o u t t h e
M A A . 2 0 2 w h i c h fiercely resisted t h e British l a n d i n g s o n
t y p e s . This t y p e h a d t w o s m a l l a m m u n i t i o n r o o m s t o e i t h e r side
W a l c h e r e n o n N o v e m b e r 1 , 1 9 4 4 . This b a t t e r y c o n s i s t e d o f f o u r
b e h i n d t h e m a i n g u n p o s i t i o n ( s h o w n in t h e p l a n v i e w , a b o v e
B a u f o r m 671 SK g u n c a s e m a t e s a r m e d w i t h f o u r British 3.7-inch
r i g h t ) , a n d access w a s b y w a y o f an a r m o r e d d o o r at t h e rear; t h e
anti-aircraft g u n s c a p t u r e d at D u n k i r k . T h e b a t t e r y w a s
b a t t e r y h a d a n i n v e n t o r y o f 2,628 r o u n d s at t h e e n d o f O c t o b e r
s u p p o r t e d b y an M 2 6 2 fire c o n t r o l p o s t at t h e s o u t h e r n e n d . T h e
1944 a n d f i r e d m o s t o f t h e m d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t h e b a t t l e . T h e
B a u f o r m 671 was o n e o f t h e m o s t c o m m o n t y p e s of
p r e f e r r e d m e t h o d o f c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s t h e use o f w o o d e n
Atlantikwall
casemates w i t h 96 in t h e N e t h e r l a n d s , 59 in D e n m a r k , 8 6 in
s h u t t e r i n g w h e n t h e c o n c r e t e w a s p o u r e d o v e r t h e steel
N o r w a y a n d 2 5 4 in France. T h e e m b r a s u r e o f f e r e d 120 d e g r e e s
r e i n f o r c i n g r o d s . H o w e v e r , an a l t e r n a t e m e t h o d u s i n g a n o u t e r
o f traverse b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e c r e w w a s e x p o s e d t o
shell o f p r e f a b r i c a t e d c o n c r e t e bricks w a s s o m e t i m e s u s e d as in
hostile fire w i t h n o g u n s h i e l d o n t h e s e w e a p o n s . This c a s e m a t e
t h i s case.
H o l l a n d . A r a i d a g a i n s t M o e r d i j k b l e w u p s o m e u n d e f e n d e d h a r b o r facilities o n the n i g h t o f N o v e m b e r 2 1 , w h i l e the L i n s e o p e r a t i n g b a s e at B u r g s l u i s w a s b o m b e d out of existence on D e c e m b e r 4. A raid on December 5 w a s c a u g h t in the o p e n b y the R A F , a n d m o s t o f the d o z e n L i n s e w e r e s u n k . A n a t t e m p t e d r a i d o n D e c e m b e r 1 2 c o s t s e v e r a l m o r e L i n s e a n d the r e m a i n d e r o f t h e f l o t i l l a w a s p a c k e d u p a n d s e n t b a c k t o G e r m a n y for o v e r h a u l . A d d i t i o n a l L i n s e w e r e s e n t t o the N e t h e r l a n d s in 1 9 4 5 , b u t t h e s e s m a l l craft p r o v e d m o r e d a n g e r o u s t o their o p e r a t o r s t h a n the A l l i e d n a v i e s . T h e L i n s e o p e r a t i o n s h a d p r o v e n s o c o s t l y a n d futile t h a t the N o r t h S e a c o m m a n d e r r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t o p e r a t i o n s b e h a l t e d ; A d m i r a l D o n i t z i n s i s t e d they continue, as the K r i e g s m a r i n e h a d few other surface w a r s h i p s aside from S - b o a t s t o c o n d u c t o p e r a t i o n s in the N o r t h S e a . D u r i n g the c o u r s e o f 1 9 4 5 , t h e L i n s e b o a t s c o n d u c t e d a f u r t h e r 1 7 1 s o r t i e s a n d l o s t 5 4 b o a t s in the process without sinking any Allied vessels. T h e d u b i o u s v a l u e o f the L i n s e e x p l o s i v e b o a t s led t o r e n e w e d a t t e n t i o n t o m i d g e t s u b m a r i n e s , a n d b e s i d e s the i n a c t i v e K - F l o t i l l a . 2 6 1 s t a t i o n e d at P o o t e r h a v e n since S e p t e m b e r , t w o m o r e B i b e r u n i t s , K - F l o t i l l a . 2 6 2 a n d 2 6 6 , w e r e d e p l o y e d at G r o n i n g e n in D e c e m b e r . Initial o p e r a t i o n s in m i d - D e c e m b e r w e r e l a r g e l y u n s u c c e s s f u l d u e t o the s u s c e p t i b i l i t y o f the s m a l l s u b m a r i n e s t o t h e w i n t e r w e a t h e r , a n d s e v e r a l w e r e l o s t a t s e a b e f o r e ever e n g a g i n g A l l i e d s h i p s . A m i s s i o n b y K . F l o t i l l a . 2 6 1 o n the n i g h t o f D e c e m b e r 2 2 w a s a d i s a s t e r , w h e n B r i t i s h M T B t o r p e d o b o a t s i n t e r c e p t e d the flotilla w h i l e the s u b m a r i n e s w e r e b e i n g t o w e d t o s e a b y R - b o a t s . F o u r B i b e r s w e r e i m m e d i a t e l y l o s t , a n d , o f the five t h a t e s c a p e d , f o u r m o r e w e r e lost d u r i n g the c o u r s e o f the r a i d . A n o t h e r g r o u p o f ten B i b e r s a s s i g n e d t o lay m i n e s in the S c h e l d t t h a t s a m e e v e n i n g l o s t t w o t o m i n e s , a n o t h e r w a s c a u g h t o n the surface by a R o y a l N a v y m o t o r launch a n d s u n k , a n d several m o r e were s u n k o r d a m a g e d b y B r i t i s h a n t i - s u b m a r i n e p a t r o l s t h r o u g h the c o u r s e o f D e c e m b e r 2 3 . T h e first s u c c e s s o f the flotillas o c c u r r e d at 1 6 : 2 5 o n D e c e m b e r 2 3 w h e n a B i b e r t o r p e d o e d the P a n a m a n i a n freighter Alan Dale d e s t i n e d for A n t w e r p . B i b e r a t t a c k s p e t e r e d o u t later in the m o n t h d u e t o the weather, a n d the R o y a l N a v y c l a i m e d 2 7 c a p t u r e d , s u n k or p r o b a b l y s u n k , a n d 16 m o r e possibly sunk. T h e w i n t e r w e a t h e r l i m i t e d o p e r a t i o n s in the n e w year. W h e n the a t t a c k s r e s u m e d in e a r n e s t in M a r c h 1 9 4 5 , A l l i e d a n t i - s u b m a r i n e f o r c e s w e r e very a c t i v e , c l a i m i n g 3 5 m i d g e t s u b s d e s t r o y e d in M a r c h a n d 1 9 in A p r i l a l o n g w i t h 1 6 p o s s i b l y s u n k in M a r c h a n d 4 in A p r i l ; a c t u a l l o s s e s w e r e m u c h higher, a n d the K - V e r b a n d e lost 7 0 Biber a n d M o l c h m i d g e t s u b m a r i n e s during 1 0 2 sorties. T h e vulnerability of the K-Verbande w a s nowhere m o r e evident than the night of M a r c h 1 1 / 1 2 w h e n a m a j o r o p e r a t i o n w a s staged a g a i n s t s h i p p i n g in the S c h e l d t w i t h o u t s i n k i n g a s i n g l e s h i p w h i l e l o s i n g 13 Biber, 9 M o l c h a n d 16 L i n s e . D u r i n g the 1 9 4 5 a c t i o n s , the midget s u b m a r i n e s p r i m a r i l y r e l i e d o n m i n e l a y i n g a n d a c c o u n t e d for s e v e n m i n o r A l l i e d v e s s e l s t o t a l i n g less t h a n 5 0 0 t o n s . T h e B i b e r w a s r e i n f o r c e d by the m u c h m o r e c a p a b l e S e e h u n d , w h i c h o p e r a t e d at sea like a conventional s u b m a r i n e ; a d e t a i l e d t r e a t m e n t o f the l a t t e r r e m a i n s o u t s i d e the s c o p e o f this b o o k . O v e r a l l , the r e s u l t s o f the K - V e r b a n d e o p e r a t i o n s w e r e e x t r e m e l y p o o r in l i g h t o f the r e s o u r c e s a l l o t t e d t o t h e m , e s p e c i a l l y c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e S - b o a t s o p e r a t i n g o u t o f their h a r d e n e d h a r b o r b u n k e r s . A s m e n t i o n e d in t h e N o r w e g i a n s e c t i o n , a f a r m o r e s u b s t a n t i a l f o r c e w a s d e p l o y e d in N o r w a y i n c l u d i n g f o u r o f t h e five K - V e r b a n d e d i v i s i o n s , b u t they never saw combat.
Combat in Norway C o a s t a l artillery in N o r w a y s a w v e r y little c o m b a t d u r i n g t h e w a r . O n e G e r m a n officer e s t i m a t e d t h a t the b a t t e r i e s in s o u t h e r n N o r w a y fired a b o u t 2 0 0 r o u n d s d u r i n g the w a r , m o s t l y a t n i g h t a g a i n s t British s m a l l craft. T h e m o s t e x t e n s i v e e n g a g e m e n t s t o o k p l a c e in D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 4 a n d J a n u a r y 1 9 4 5 d u e t o R o y a l N a v y d e s t r o y e r a n d c r u i s e r a c t i o n s off S t a v a n g e r i n v o l v i n g B a t t e r y E g e r s u n d . In c o n t r a s t t o the c o a s t a l artillery, n a v a l a n d a r m y f l a k units t h a t w e r e p a r t o f the c o a s t a l artillery g r o u p s w e r e u s e d o n a n u m b e r o f o c c a s i o n s a g a i n s t Allied air r a i d s . W h e n F i n l a n d w i t h d r e w f r o m the w a r o n S e p t e m b e r 4 , 1 9 4 4 , the t e r m s o f the a r m i s t i c e f o r c e d the W e h r m a c h t t o w i t h d r a w f r o m F i n l a n d . W i t h the R e d A r m y o c c u p y i n g the Baltic c o a s t , this m e a n t a fighting e v a c u a t i o n via n o r t h e r n F i n l a n d into the F i n n m a r k a r e a o f n o r t h e r n N o r w a y . T h e W e h r m a c h t h a d fortified the a r e a a r o u n d P e t s a m o a n d there w a s s o m e h o p e t h a t 1 9 . G e b i r g s K o r p s c o u l d h o l d o n t o the a r e a , a s w i n t e r c a m e e a r l y in the A r c t i c a n d there w a s the c o n v i c t i o n t h a t the R e d A r m y w o u l d a w a i t better w e a t h e r . R e c o g n i z i n g their v u l n e r a b i l i t y , o n O c t o b e r 3 , 1 9 4 4 H i t l e r a u t h o r i z e d O p e r a t i o n Nordlicht {Northern Light), a w i t h d r a w a l o u t o f n o r t h e r n F i n l a n d b a c k to the L y n g e n P o s i t i o n , a defensive line a l o n g the L y n g e n F j o r d a n d the northern tip of S w e d e n . In the event, the R e d A r m y l a u n c h e d a n offensive o n O c t o b e r 7 , 1 9 4 4 t h a t o v e r w h e l m e d the G e r m a n defensive lines in F i n l a n d a n d led t o the c a p t u r e o f P e t s a m o o n O c t o b e r 1 5 . N o t c o n t e n t t o c h a s e the W e h r m a c h t o u t of F i n l a n d , the third p h a s e o f the S o v i e t offensive a i m e d a t seizing the N o r w e g i a n p o r t of K i r k e n e s , a n d this a r e a w a s c a p t u r e d b y the end of the m o n t h , b r i n g i n g the offensive t o a c l o s e . D u r i n g the fighting, s o m e o f the c o a s t a l artillery b a t t e r i e s t o o k p a r t in p r o v i d i n g fire s u p p o r t for the h a r r i e d G e r m a n d e f e n d e r s , firing a b o u t 6 0 0 r o u n d s . M a n y o f the m o b i l e batteries w e r e w i t h d r a w n f r o m the c o a s t t o r e i n f o r c e the L y n g e n L i n e , a n d t h o s e left b e h i n d w e r e u s u a l l y s p i k e d b e f o r e their c a p t u r e b y S o v i e t f o r c e s . T h e Soviet a d v a n c e f o r c e d the K r i e g s m a r i n e t o m o v e the b a t t l e s h i p Tirpitz f r o m its r e m o t e a n c h o r a g e in the A l t a f j o r d t o T r o m s o for u s e a s a f l o a t i n g c o a s t a l battery. T h i s p u t the d a m a g e d s h i p w i t h i n r a n g e o f R A F L a n c a s t e r s , w h i c h s t r u c k the w a r s h i p o n N o v e m b e r 1 2 , 1 9 4 4 , finally s i n k i n g it after 1 5 p r e v i o u s a t t a c k s by R A F a n d R o y a l N a v y a i r c r a f t .
The last battle O n e of the s t r a n g e s t battles o n the Atlantikwall in the N e t h e r l a n d s o c c u r r e d in April 1 9 4 5 o n the island of Texel. T h i s fighting w a s a n u n i n t e n d e d o u t c o m e of G e r m a n policies in 1 9 4 3 - 4 5 t o " d i l u t e " G e r m a n o c c u p a t i o n t r o o p s a l o n g the Atlantikwall w i t h Soviet p r i s o n e r s o f w a r , w h o v o l u n t e e r e d t o serve in the W e h r m a c h t rather t h a n risk d e a t h in the g h a s t l y p r i s o n c a m p s . In F e b r u a r y 1 9 4 5 , Georgischen B a t a i l l o n . 8 2 2 , consisting of a b o u t 8 0 0 G e o r g i a n a n d 4 0 0 G e r m a n t r o o p s , w a s sent t o o c c u p y the infantry defenses o f S t r o n g p o i n t T e x e l . T h e unit w a s p a r t o f the p a p e r 2 1 9 . 1 n f a n t e r i e D i v i s i o n o r g a n i z e d in M a r c h 1 9 4 5 t o free u p G e r m a n t r o o p s in the D e n H e l d e r d e f e n s e sector. Besides this unit, there w e r e three c o a s t a l artillery batteries o n the i s l a n d a l o n g with a n u m b e r of other G e r m a n d e f e n s e s , including a r a d a r p o s t . O n the night of A p r i l 5 / 6 , 1 9 4 5 the G e o r g i a n t r o o p s m u t i n i e d a n d k i l l e d m o s t o f t h e G e r m a n t r o o p s in their b a t t a l i o n . T h e y d i d n o t m a n a g e t o o v e r c o m e the n a v a l batteries M K B E i e r l a n d a n d H o r s o f 2.1 a n d 3 . / M A A . 6 0 7 o r the a r m y b a t t e r y 1 . / H K A A . 1 2 3 0 , w h i c h w e r e m a n n e d b y G e r m a n t r o o p s . W h i l e the artillery batteries tied d o w n the m u t i n e e r s , r e i n f o r c e m e n t s a r r i v e d f r o m the m a i n l a n d ,
m a i n l y M a r i n e - S c h u t z e n r e g i m e n t . 1 6 3 . A violent battle pitting the G e o r g i a n t r o o p s a n d D u t c h resistance fighters a g a i n s t the W e h r m a c h t units l a s t e d for t w o w e e k s with the G e o r g i a n s losing a b o u t 5 6 5 m e n ; a b o u t 8 0 0 G e r m a n s a n d 1 1 7 D u t c h civilians a l s o died d u r i n g the rebellion. T h e G e o r g i a n s c o n t i n u e d to fight a g a i n s t the G e r m a n s even after the M a y 8 c a p i t u l a t i o n a n d C a n a d i a n t r o o p s d i d n o t a r r i v e o n the i s l a n d until M a y 2 0 , b r i n g i n g a n e n d t o the b l o o d s h e d . T h e lingering fighting o n T e x e l h a s led this c u r i o u s e n c o u n t e r t o be d u b b e d " t h e last battle of W o r l d W a r I I . "
The K-Verbande midget submarine flotillas in Holland began t o receive the improved Molch submarine in 1945. This type carries t w o torpedoes or mines on the lower hull sides, t h o u g h this preserved example at the Marshall Museum in Overloon, the Netherlands lacks the weapons. (Author's photograph)
BATTERIE FJELL, MKB.11/504, BERGEN, NORWAY A m o n g t h e m o s t i m p r e s s i v e Atlantikwall t u r r e t s f r o m t h e b a t t l e c r u i s e r Gneisenau at O r l a n d e t a n d Fjell. T h e Gneisenau
fortifications were t w o e m p l a c e d in N o r w a y
was d a m a g e d d u r i n g t h e
t o t h e t u r r e t b y a n a r r o w g a u g e r a i l w a y . T h e t u n n e l s also l e d t o a n e x t e n s i v e u n d e r g r o u n d g a l l e r y t o t h e east o f t h e t u r r e t containing the main crew quarters and additional a m m u n i t i o n
" C h a n n e l D a s h " a n d w h i l e u n d e r repair, it w a s d a m a g e d a g a i n
s t o r a g e . T h e S446 f i r e c o n t r o l p o s t w a s l o c a t e d a b o u t 2 5 0 m t o
b y an RAF raid. T h e s u b s e q u e n t r e c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o g r a m
t h e east, a n d c o u l d b e r e a c h e d b y a t u n n e l . T h e c o m p l e x w a s
p l a n n e d t o replace t h e e x i s t i n g t r i p l e 2 8 0 m m SK C/28 in D r h L
d e f e n d e d b y several b u n k e r s i n c l u d i n g t w o B a u f o r m 6 3 3 w i t h
C/28 t u r r e t s w i t h 3 8 0 m m g u n s , f r e e i n g t h e w e a p o n s f o r coastal
5 0 m m M19 automatic mortars, and a Bauform 629 antitank
d e f e n s e . T h e A t u r r e t h a d b e e n d a m a g e d d u r i n g an i n c o n c l u s i v e
g u n b u n k e r . T h e r e w a s also a f o u r - g u n 8 8 m m Flak b a t t e r y
d u e l w i t h t h e HMS Renown
d u r i n g t h e A p r i l 1940 N o r w e g i a n
near t h e site in c o n c r e t e g u n p i t s . D u e t o t h e i m p o r t a n c e
c a m p a i g n , a n d critically d a m a g e d in t h e F e b r u a r y 2 6 / 2 7 RAF
o f t h e b a t t e r y , t h e f i r e c o n t r o l p o s t w a s s u p p o r t e d b y a Freya
raid, so its g u n s w e r e re-used in t h r e e n e w s i n g l e t u r r e t s in
s u r f a c e search radar l o c a t e d t o t h e east. T h e g u n b a t t e r y first
Seezielbatterie R o z e n b u r g in t h e H o o k o f H o l l a n d . In 1943, t h e
u n d e r w e n t p r o o f - f i r i n g in t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 4 3 , b u t n e v e r s a w
B t u r r e t was d i s a s s e m b l e d a n d m o v e d t o Fjell w h i l e t h e C t u r r e t
c o m b a t use.
w e n t t o O r l a n d e t . T h e D r h L C/28 t u r r e t s w e r e m o d i f i e d in t h e process, w i t h t h e s t e r e o s c o p i c r a n g e f i n d e r s r e m o v e d . The Batterie Fjell w a s l o c a t e d o n a r o c k y r i d g e o n t h e island o f Fjell a b o u t 1 7 5 m a b o v e sea level, c o v e r i n g t h e s o u t h e r n
T h e Fjell b a t t e r y b e g a n t o b e d i s a s s e m b l e d in 1947 a n d c o m p l e t e l y s c r a p p e d b y 1 9 8 1 ; t h e t u r r e t shaft is n o w c o v e r e d w i t h a cafe. Its sister b a t t e r y n o r t h o f T r o n d h e i m , r e n a m e d Fort A u s t r a t in N o r w e g i a n K y s t a r t i l l e r i e t service, r e m a i n e d in service
a p p r o a c h e s t o B e r g e n . T h e 1 7 m - d e e p shaft f o r t h e t u r r e t w a s
until finally d e c o m m i s s i o n e d and converted into a m u s e u m
e x c a v a t e d o u t o f q u a r t z i t e rock w h i c h m i n i m i z e d t h e n e e d
w i t h t h e t u r r e t still i n t a c t .
for e x t e n s i v e a m o u n t s o f s t e e l - r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e . O n c e
1 . S446 c o m m a n d b u n k e r
c o m p l e t e d , t h e t u r r e t was c o v e r e d w i t h t h e usual c a m o u f l a g e
2 . R633 b u n k e r
umbrella consisting of w o o d e n outriggers and wire netting
3. T r a n s f o r m e r b u n k e r
w i t h p a i n t e d m e t a l squares a n d d r i e d b r u s h .
4. Defense bunker
A large c h a m b e r w a s c o n s t r u c t e d u n d e r t h e g u n t u r r e t f o r supporting e q u i p m e n t and a m m u n i t i o n . The chamber was
5. Crew quarters 6. Main entrance bunker
c o n n e c t e d t o an e x t e n s i v e t u n n e l n e t w o r k , w h i c h l i n k e d
7. Main turret
t h e v a r i o u s s u p p o r t i n g s t r u c t u r e s i n c l u d i n g an e n g i n e
8 . W e s t e r n access
and generator chamber immediately behind the battery
A . Shell h a n d l i n g r o o m
for power, a ventilator r o o m , and a defensive b u n k e r w i t h
B. C h a r g e h a n d l i n g r o o m
4 7 m m anti-tank g u n to protect the main entrance. There was
C. Main a m m u n i t i o n trunk
also an a m m u n i t i o n reserve f o r a b o u t 3 0 0 r o u n d s , c o n n e c t e d
D. A u x i l i a r y a m m u n i t i o n h o i s t t r u n k
THE SITES TODAY B e l g i u m r e t a i n s a n u m b e r o f c o a s t a l b u n k e r s , a n d by the far the m o s t interesting is D o m a i n R a v e r s i j d e o n the w e s t e r n side of O s t e n d . T h i s w a s the f o r m e r r o y a l d o m a i n t h a t w a s t u r n e d over t o the p r o v i n c e of West F l a n d e r s by Prince K a r e l in 1 9 8 1 . U n l i k e o t h e r p o r t i o n s o f the B e l g i a n c o a s t w h e r e the b u n k e r s h a d b e e n d e m o l i s h e d , m a n y b u n k e r s r e m a i n e d intact o n the estate. T h e p a r k c o n t a i n s n o t o n l y the e x t e n s i v e W o r l d W a r II Batterie S a l t z w e d e l n e u / T i r p i t z , b u t a l s o e l e m e n t s o f the W o r l d W a r I Batterie A a c h e n . T h i s is o n e o f the m o s t e x t e n s i v e a n d b e s t - p r e s e r v e d sites o n the entire Atlantikwall and c o n t a i n s n u m e r o u s r e s t o r e d b u n k e r s a n d g u n p o s i t i o n s . If I h a d to r e c o m m e n d site for r e a d e r s t o visit, this w o u l d be the o n e . a single Atlantikwall T h e N e t h e r l a n d s w a s h a p p y t o rid itself o f m e m o r i e s o f the G e r m a n o c c u p a t i o n , a n d the severe f l o o d o f 1 9 5 3 c o n v i n c e d the g o v e r n m e n t to begin a c a m p a i g n t o r e m o v e m o s t o f the b u n k e r s ; their hasty c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d the risk o f e r o s i o n p o s e d a t h r e a t t o the vital c o a s t a l d u n e s . O n l y a h a n d f u l of l a r g e sites r e m a i n , a l t h o u g h there a r e n u m e r o u s b u n k e r s s c a t t e r e d a b o u t . T h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n a r o u n d I J m u i d e n is the m o s t interesting a s it includes the substantial Seezielbatterie H e e r e n d u i n in the dunes behind the p a r k i n g lot of the s e a s i d e H o l i d a y Inn a l o n g w i t h s o m e n e i g h b o r i n g flak batteries. T h e I J m u i d e n K e r n w e r k is a l s o n e a r b y a n d c a n be visited o n special t o u r s . T h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g b a t t e r y site o n the n o r t h s i d e o f the Kernwerk h a s d i s a p p e a r e d u n d e r the m a s s i v e C o r u s i n d u s t r i a l p a r k , b u t there a r e s o m e batteries in n e i g h b o r i n g W i j k - a m - Z e e . A n o t h e r m e m o r a b l e site is Seezielbatterie S c h v e n i n g e n - N o r d o n the b e a c h o n the n o r t h side of the city. T h i s battery is l o c a t e d in the protected c o a s t a l d u n e s a n d s o is off limits, b u t c a n be easily seen f r o m the b e a c h . In c o n t r a s t t o the A m s t e r d a m a r e a , the extensive fortification efforts o n the H o o k of H o l l a n d near R o t t e r d a m h a v e largely been obliterated by the construction of the m a s s i v e E u r o p o r t d o c k facility, t h o u g h there are still m a n y scattered bunkers in the N o r d m o l e area o n the north side. T h e g u n batteries involved in the violent b a t t l e for W a l c h e r e n h a v e l o n g since been r e m o v e d , b u t the B u n k e r b e h o u d f o u n d a t i o n h a s been u n d e r t a k i n g a p r o g r a m to restore s o m e surviving personnel a n d o b s e r v a t i o n b u n k e r s in the a r e a , including e x a m p l e s in Z o u t e l a n d e a n d V l i s s i n g e n . T h e s e a r e little g e m s w i t h e x t r e m e l y authentic r e c o n s t r u c t i o n s of the interior, w h i c h give a g o o d idea of the w a r t i m e life in these b u n k e r s . D e n m a r k t o o k f e w p a i n s t o p r e s e r v e the m a n y b u n k e r s a l o n g the w e s t e r n c o a s t o f J u t l a n d , b u t in the 1 9 8 0 s the N a t i o n a l F o r e s t a n d N a t u r e A g e n c y b e g a n t o c a t a l o g the s u r v i v i n g sites w i t h a n a i m t o w a r d s selecting s o m e of the m o r e s i g n i f i c a n t sites for later p r e s e r v a t i o n . In 2 0 0 5 , the C u l t u r a l H e r i t a g e A g e n c y d e s i g n a t e d s u r v i v i n g b u n k e r s t o be " w o r t h y of p r e s e r v a t i o n , " w h i c h o b l i g e s s t a t e a g e n c i e s t o c o n s u l t b e f o r e d e s t r o y i n g s u r v i v i n g b u n k e r s o n state property; bunkers on private land are not protected. M a n y bunkers remain a l o n g the c o a s t b e c a u s e they h a v e p r o v e n t o be t o o m u c h t r o u b l e t o r e m o v e . N o r w a y h a d r e l a t i v e l y little h e a v y b u n k e r c o n s t r u c t i o n c o n s i d e r i n g the l a r g e n u m b e r o f g u n b a t t e r i e s d e p l o y e d t h e r e . After W o r l d W a r II, the N o r w e g i e n Kystartilleriet t o o k o v e r m a n y of the better G e r m a n g u n batteries a n d k e p t t h e m in service for m a n y y e a r s . T h i s p r e s e r v e d a n u m b e r of batteries, b u t a l s o limited p u b l i c a c c e s s a s they b e c a m e c l o s e d military p o s t s . T h e m o s t i m p r e s s i v e a r e the A d o l f k a n o n e n a t T r o n d e n e s a n d the G n e i s e n a u turret at O r l a n d e t ; the V a r a b a t t e r y h a d its g u n r e m o v e d , b u t the l a r g e a n d i n c o m p l e t e g u n c a s e m a t e is still o n site. T h e r e a r e l a r g e n u m b e r s o f s m a l l G e r m a n fortifications a l o n g the N o r w e g i a n c o a s t including s o m e rarities such a s several P z K p f w II F l a m i n g o Panzerstellungen.
F o r r e a d e r s i n t e r e s t e d in v i s i t i n g t h e s e s i t e s , t h e b o o k s in t h e Further reading section t h a t f o l l o w s p r o v i d e m o r e detail, n o t a b l y the r e g i o n a l s t u d i e s . H o w e v e r , it is very helpful t o c h e c k m o r e r e c e n t i n f o r m a t i o n a s a c c e s s t o m a n y o f these sites d e p e n d s o n the t i m e o f year. T h e Internet is a p a r t i c u l a r l y useful s o u r c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n o n the m u s e u m s . In the c a s e o f s o m e o f the more remote bunkers which are not part of public m u s e u m s , I have found t h a t o v e r h e a d t o p o g r a p h i c i m a g e r y s u c h a s t h a t p r o v i d e d by G o o g l e E a r t h is e n o r m o u s l y v a l u a b l e in w a l k i n g t o u r s o f the b u n k e r s , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n u s e d in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G P S .
FURTHER READING A l t h o u g h the history of the Atlantikwall in F r a n c e is well c o v e r e d in E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e s o u r c e s , this is n o t the c a s e w i t h the Atlantikwall in the L o w Countries a n d S c a n d i n a v i a , which h a s been largely i g n o r e d in English a c c o u n t s . O n e of the better a r c h i v a l s o u r c e s is the U S A r m y ' s S e a c o a s t Artillery E v a l u a t i o n B o a r d r e p o r t , b u t c o p i e s are difficult t o find e x c e p t in the a r c h i v e s . I l o c a t e d e x a m p l e s a t the N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s a n d R e c o r d s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( N A R A II) in C o l l e g e P a r k , M a r y l a n d a n d the U S A r m y M i l i t a r y H i s t o r y Institute at Carlisle B a r r a c k s , P e n n s y l v a n i a . O n e of the s t r a n g e a s p e c t s of this large study is t h a t there is little c o v e r a g e of F r a n c e or the L o w C o u n t r i e s , b u t relatively extensive detail o n S c a n d i n a v i a . W h i l e t h e r e is little c o v e r a g e o f the Atlantikwall o n t h e N o r t h S e a in E n g l i s h , there is a b u n d a n t c o v e r a g e in F l e m i s h , D u t c h , D a n i s h , G e r m a n , a n d N o r w e g i a n ; s o m e o f the b o o k s listed b e l o w a r e m u l t i - l i n g u a l w i t h E n g l i s h o r G e r m a n s e c t i o n s . T h e r e is p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d c o v e r a g e o f the N e t h e r l a n d s . S o m e of the r e g i o n a l studies a r e especially helpful if p l a n n i n g t o visit the sites, a s they often serve a s c a t a l o g s o f r e m a i n i n g f o r t i f i c a t i o n s .
UNPUBLISHED GOVERNMENT REPORTS Clearing
German
the Channel Ports: Part V Canadian Participation in the Operations in North-West Europe 1944. (Report N o . 184, Historical Section, Canadian Military Headquarters) Seacoast Defenses - European Theater (7 volumes, Seacoast Artillery Evaluation Board, US Forces, E T O , 1945)
GENERAL ATLANTIKWALL
STUDIES
Helmut Blocksdorf, Hitler's Secret Commandos: Operations of the K-Verband (Pen & Sword: 2008) Lawrence Paterson, Weapons of Desperation: German Frogmen and
Midget Submarines of World War II (Chatham: 2006) Rudi Rolf, Der Atlantikwall: Die Bauten der deutschen Kustenbefestigungen 1940-1945 (Zeller: 1998) Rudi Rolf, Der Atlantikwall: Perlenschnur aus Stahlbeton (AMA: 1983) Rudi Rolf, Het Duitse Fortificatie-ontwerp 1935-1945 (Beetsterzwaag: 1985) Rudi Rolf and Peter Saal, Fortress Europe (Airlife: 1988) Hans Sakkers and Hans Houterman, Atlantikwall in Zeeland en Vlaanderen (Citadel: 2000) Michael Schmeelke and Alarm Kiiste, Deutsche Marine-, Heeres- und Luftwaffenbatterien in der Kiistenverteidigung 1939-1945 (Dorfler: 2006)
BELGIUM Alex Deseyne, De Rust Bezet 1914-1918 (Goekink Graphics: 2007) Alex Deseyne, Raversijde 1914-1918: Geschiedenis van de Batterij Aachen (West-Vlaanderen: 2005) Frank Philippart et al, De Atlantik Wall: Van Willemstad tot de Somme (Lannoo: 2004) Mariette Jacobs, Raversijde 1940-1944: De Atlantikwall Batterij Saltzwedel neu/Tirpitz (West-Vlaanderen: 1995) Karl Schmeelke, Michael Schmeelke, Deutsche Kustenbefestigungen in Belgien 1914-1945 (Podzun-Pallas: 1995) Alain Van Geeteruvon, De Atlanische Muur, Deel 1: De Bouwheren (De Krijger, 1990) Alain Van Geeteruvon and Dirk Peeters, De Atlanische Muur, Deel 2:
De Bunkers
leger en marine
types (De Krijger, 1990)
DENMARK Jens Andersen and Rudi Rolf, German Bunkers in Denmark: A Survey (PRAK: 2006) Vibeke Ebert, The Atlantic Wall from Nymindegab to Skallingen (Blavandshuk Egnsmuseum: 1992) M . Svejgaard, The Kriegsmarine Command, Control and Reporting System,
bunkers and electronic systems in Denmark 1940-45 (Gyges: 2007) Peter Willumsen et al, Der Atlantikwall auf Fano (weXco: 2004)
THE NETHERLANDS H . E Ambachtsheer, Van verdediging naar bescherming: De Atlantikwall Den Haag ( V O M : 1995) C. Bal, Scheveningen-Den Haag 1940-1945: Van Dorp en Stad tot Stutzpunktgruppe Scheveningen (Rodi: 2001) Peter Heijkoop and Jeroen Rijpsma, De Atlantikwall op Goeree (Rijpsma: 2006) Maarten Peters, De Atlantikwall: Omstreden erfgoed van Rijnmond tot IJmond (Open Kaart: 2005) Ruud Pols and Leo de Vries, Seefront IJmuiden: Duitse bunkers in de kustverdediging van de Festung IJmuiden (Pirola: 2005) Biber: Kustverdiging Jeroen Rijpsma and Klaas van Brakel, Radarstellung
op Voorne 1940-45 (Rijpsma: 2005) (PRAK: 2005) Rudi Rolf and Hans Sakkers, Duitse bunkers in Nederland Hans Sakkers, Festung Hoek van Holland (Fortress Books: 1992) Hans Sakkers, Vesting Vlissingen (Bunkerbehoud: 2004)
NORWAY Roy Andersen, Stride
nom Strandsonen: Generalinspektoatet for Kystartilleriet 1899-2001 (Eide: 2005) Trygve Dahl, Festung Greipstad 1940-45 (Stiftelsen: 2005) Erik Ettrup and Daniel Schellenberger, Festung Lista: Atlanterhavsvollen i Norge (Commentum: 2007) Erik Ettrup, Erik Ritterbach and Daniel Schellenberger, Der Atlantikwall in Norwegen: Festung Stavanger 1940-45 (Mails & More: 2005) J a n Fjortofy, Tyske kystfort i Norge (Agder: 1982) J a n Olav Flatmark, Sunnmore i Festung Norwegen (Snohette: 1994) Olav Kobbeltveit, Fjell Festung i Krig og Fred (Eide: 2006)
in
GLOSSARY AOK
Armeeoberkommando; high command of an army
Art.Gr.
Artilleriegruppe, artillery group
Art.Ob.Gr.
Artillerieobergruppe, artillery super-group
Bauform
construction plan
E o r EB
Eisenbahnbatterie: railroad battery
Festung
Fortress, major fortified area
Festungsbereich
fortified area
Flagruko
Flakgruppenkommandostand/stabsbatterie: flak group command post/staff battery
Flugplatz
Airbase
Heer
German Army
HKAA
Heeres-kiisten-artillerie-abteilung, Army coastal artillery regiment
HKAR
Heeres-Kusten-artillerie-regiment, Army coastal artillery regiment
HKB
Heereskiistenbatterie; Army coastal battery
IR
Infantry regiment
K-Division
K-Verbande division
K-Flotilla
K-Verbande flotilla
Kernwerk
core position of Festung
KVA
Kiisten Verteidigung Abschnitt, divisional coast defense sector
K-Verbande
also KdK, K o m m a n d o der Kleinkampfverbande, small combat unit command
Kriegsmarine
German Navy
KVG
Kiisten Verteidigung Gruppe, coast defense group
Landfront
Fortified positions of coastal defense sector protecting rearward towards the land
MAA
Marine-artillerie-abteilung: Navy artillery regiment
Marko-Stand
Marineartilleriekommandostand/stabsbatterie: Naval artillery command post/staff battery
MEK
Marine Einsatz K o m m a n d o ; commando units of the K-Verbande
MKB
Marine Kiisten Batterie: N a v y coastal battery
OB
offene Bettung, open platform
Regelbau
construction standard, sometimes abbreviated as R when used with a particular plan, for example R 6 2 1
S-boat
German motor torpedo boat; often called E-boat by the Allies
Schartenstand
Gun casemate
Seeko
Seekommandant; regional naval command
Seezielbatterie
Naval battery; alternate of M K B
SK
bunker design suffix for Sonderkonstruktion, special design
St.P.
Stiitzpunkt; strongpoint, typically platoon to company size
St.P.Gr.
Stiitzpunktgruppe; strongpoint group, typically company to battalion size A class of small bunkers with circular openings for a crew-served weapon
Tobruk Tonne
Metric ton (1,000kg; 2.204 lb)
Unterstande
Bunker
VB
Verteidigungsbereich; defense zone
Vf
Verstarkfeldmassig; reinforced field position such as a tobruk
WorWN
Widerstandsnest; resistance nest, typically section to platoon sized
Westwall
German fortifications created in the late 1930s on the French-German border, also known as Siegfried Line
INDEX References to illustrations are shown in bold. Plates are prefixed pi, with captions on the page in brackets. Suffix m indicates a map. Suffix / indicates a table.
Alan Dale (Panamanian freighter) 56 Allied forces: 2nd Canadian Division 52 3rd Canadian Division 52 4th Special Service Brigade 53 41 Marine Commando 55 48 Marine Commando 55 52nd Division 52 Antwerp 5, 29, 52 artillery: 75mm Pak anti-tank guns 5, 13 150mm destroyer guns 8, pll4(15) 39, 49 150mm submarine guns 13, 39 210mm Morser 18 42 280mm Model 1892/93 guns 5 406mm Adolfkanone 42bis, 45, 45/, pl47(46) 60 anti-aircraft guns 12, 29, 33/, 50 Belgian Vickers 94mm pedestal gun 5, 24 British 3.7-inch anti-aircraft 53, pl54(55) 55 Cockerill 120mm Model 1931 field gun 7 French field guns 36, 39/, 42, 53 Gneisenau secondary armament 39, 50 heavy naval guns 45-6, 45/ Kriegsmarine flak batteries pl22(23) 29, 32/, 5 0 , 5 1 / railroad guns 25, 26, 27 Skoda 210mm 37 tank turrets 10, 15, pl34(35) 49 Atlantic Wall: additional seawall 12 bunker construction 10/ coastal radar chain 17 construction priorities 8, 9 defense sector organization 12, 24, 27, 29, 36-7 density of bunkers 11-12 fortifications on the North Sea 11m in Scandinavia 38, 38m Belgian coastal batteries 5, 24, 25bis, 26/, 27 Blucher (German cruiser) 5, 6, 48 Breskens pocket 28, 29, 52 Bruneval raid 8 Bunkerbehoud Foundation 27, 55 bunkers see also reinforced field fortifications bombproof 10 camouflaged 25 fire control/observation 10, 26, 27, 28,31 forward artillery observation llbis gun casemates Hbis, 10, 31 munitions 7, 10 personnel 6, 10 S-boat 6, 28, 56
64
standard designs 9-10 submarine 6, 35, 37 types 10-11 casemates, disguised as buildings 8, 9 Channel Islands 8, 9 coastal artillery 12-15 fire control posts 5, pll8( 19) Heer doctrine 15 infrared detectors 19-20 Kriegsmarine 13, 27, 27, 28, 3 1 , 31 coastal obstacles 15 controlled submarine minefields 20, 20 Den Helder 29bis, 57 Denmark: coastal batteries 48, 4 8 - 9 , 50-1/ planned deployments 49, 51 Dieppe raid 9, 20 Domain Raversijde museum 5, 7, 8, Ubis,
Netherlands: coastal batteries 27, 28, 33/ coastal radars 17, 19 Naval batteries 32/ New West Wall see Atlantic Wall Norway: artillery command structure 42 British raids 7 coastal artillery 39, 39/, 42 coastal artillery combat 57 Einsatzgruppe Wiking bunkers 37/, 38w North Coast batteries 43/ Polar Coast batteries 4 0 - 1 / torpedo batteries 46/, 49 West Coast batteries 4 4 - 5 / Norwegian coast 35-6
16, 60
Donitz, Admiral Karl 56 Einsatzgruppe Wiking 37, 37/ Erebus, HMS (monitor) 53 fortress Festung Festung Festung
midget submarines: Biber 23, 24, 48/, 56 Marder 23, 48/ Molch 24, 48/, 56, 59 Neger 23 Seehund 56
sites 12 Hoek van Holland 28 Ijmuiden 28, 29, pl30(31) 60 Schelde 29, 52
Gallipoli lessons 15 German forces: 19 Gebirgs Korps 57 41st Radar Company 17, 19 64 Infanterie Division 52 70 Infanterie Division 52 712 Infanterie Division 27 Georgischen Bataillon 822 57, 59 Marine-Schutzenregiment 163 59 Gneisenau (German battlecruiser) secondary armament 39, 50 turret 36, 40, 45/, pl58(59) 60 Graf Zeppelin (German aircraft carrier) 46 Heye, Vice Admiral Helmuth 23, 55 Hitler, Reichsfuhrer Adolf 6, 7-8, 8-9, 9, 39, 49, 57 infrared detector, Zeiss WPG-ZSt 19-20 K-Verbande (Small Combat Unit) 23 in the Netherlands 55-6 in Norway 48/ KernwerkM, 28, pl30(31) Krautman, Leutnant 23 Linse explosive motor boats 24, 48/, 55-6, 56 midget submarine threat: acoustic sensors for 21 rocket-propelled depth charges 2 1 , 21 Royal Navy attacks 21
Opalka, Kapitan Robert 55 Organization Todt 6bis, 10, 37 Ostend 5, 6, 24 radars: deployment 17, 19, 42 Freya 16 FuMB passive monitoring receivers 17, 19 FuMO 214/215 Scheer 17 FuMO-11 Renner centimetric 16, 17 FuMO-214 Wurzburg-Reise 16, 16, 17, 19, 2 3 , 2 5 naval reporting centers 17, 19 Seetakt 16-17 reinforced field fortifications: camouflaged gunpits 37, 40, 46, 49, 50 'kettle' gunpits 5, 7, 25bis Tobruks 7, 10, 11, 3 1 , pl34(35) reinforced field fortifications see also bunkers Rommel, General Erwin 15 Royal Navy Close Support Squadron 53 St Nazaire raid 8, 20 Scheldt campaign 52-3, 55 Scheldt Estuary 29, 52, 56 searchlights 15-16, 16
Terror, HMS (monitor) 53 Texel mutiny 57-8 Tirpitz (German battleship) 21, 57 Todt, Dr Fritz 6 torpedoes, wire-guided 23, 24, 42, 46/, 48, 49 Trondheim 35, 37 Vlissingen 28, 29, 52, 55 Walcheren 5, 52-3 Warspite, HMS (battleship) 53 Westkapelle Batterie 53, 55, pl54(55) 55 Zeebrugge 5, 5, 24
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Design, technology and history of key fortresses, strategic positions and defensive systems
THE ATLANTIC WALL (2) Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway Germany's Atlantic Wall was the most ambitious military fortification program of World War II. Following its conquest of Western Europe, Germany had to defend some 5,OOOkm of Atlantic coastline from the Spanish border to the Arctic Circle. The United States' entry into the war and the inevitability of an Anglo-American landing in Western Europe resulted in the fortification of this coastline along its entire length. Focusing on the northern Atlantic Wall in the Low Countries and Scandinavia, this title addresses the special aspects of these countries, such as the early concentration on fortifying Norway, in response to early British commando raids; the greater use of turreted naval guns and the establishment of first-line Flak defenses in the Low Countries to counter the Allied strategic bombing campaign .
Full color artwork
_ Photographs
_ Unrivaled detail
_ Color maps
US$18.95 UK£11.99 CAN $22.00 IS B N 978-1-84603-393-3
5 1 895
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